Friday, August 3, 2012 by GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LIMITED

Okagbare, others raise Nigeria’s hope P.53

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Vol. 2 N0. 418

Panic in Abuja as police evacuate ‘explosives’ P.6

Fela... 15 years on A special pull-out Rasheed Gbadamosi Sola Olorunyomi Lemi Ghariokwu Femi Odugbemi and many more write on the icon who changed the face of African music, and who just can’t be forgotten

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Friday, August 3, 2012

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Okonjo-Iweala admits 14% budget performance ...calms Senate, says Nigeria not broke Disagreement good for democracy –Mark

DETAILS

Capital budget N1.3trn Released funds N404bn/31% Total cash-backed

N324bn/24.9% Utilised funds N184bn/14% Unutilised funds N140bn/10.7% GEORGE OJI AND EMMANUEL ONANI

L-R: Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yarima Ngama with the Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the interactive session with the Senate Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance on implementation of 2012 budget at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Lagos goes tough on erring motorists ...as Fashola signs road traffic bill into law Ogoni declares self-government, vows not to retreat

he Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minster of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday admitted that the 2012 capital budget has only been implemented by 14 per cent, just as she assured that the budget will be implemented fully by year end. Okonjo-Iweala, who had been summoned by the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>

THE OFFENCES

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Eating, drinking, counting money while driving Making phone calls, texting, pinging Trailers, heavy duty vehicles off roads from 6am-9pm Operation of Okada on Lagos Island, Eti-Osa LG

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Ramadan Special P.20

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Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Okonjo-Iweala admits 14% budget performance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Senate Joint Committees on Appropriation, Finance, Planning and Public Accounts to shed light on the level of implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act, was able to convince the senators that while just 14 per cent of the N1.3trn capital budget had been utilised, government was doing its very best in the circumstances. She repeated her earlier statements that 56 per cent of the cash-backed releases, amounting to N184bn had been utilised. The senators had backed a threat by the House of Representatives to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan, if the budget was not fully implemented by September, which government said was impossible. Responding to a barrage of questions from the committee members, the minister who had apologised for failing to honour an earlier invitation insisted that the Federal Government does not intend to extend the implementation of the 2012 budget beyond the end of December this year. She said that the practice of extending the implementation of the budget till March the following year was not a good budgetary practice and that the present administration has decided to put a halt to it. “The practice is very wrong, we should stop it, and indeed we should implement the budget on a yearly basis,” the minister said. The minister, who came to the venue of the public hearing in company of the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi; Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; DirectorGeneral, Budget Office, Dr. Bright Okogwu; Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla and the AuditorGeneral of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Okura, also refuted the allegation that the country was broke. “The country is absolutely not broke. The country may have cash flow problems from time

to time, that are normal, but the country is absolutely not broke,” the minister assured, while responding to the claim by one of the senators that the country was broke without government admitting it. She stated that transparency and prudence remains the government’s key priority in the management of the nation’s resources and in particular the 2012 budget. Shedding light on the progress of the budget implementation, the minister assured that the implementation of the 2012 budget was on course. She said so far government was releasing funds to the ministries, departments and agencies as and when due. She pointed out that the 2012 budget was on its fourth month of implementation since the appropriation act was passed into law only in April. She disclosed that out of the N1.3trn budgeted for capital projects, her ministry had released the sum of N404bn to the MDAs, out of which N324bn was cash-backed. According to the minister, while N184bn of the amount or 56 per cent has so far been utilised by the MDAs, 44 per cent of the balance amounting to N140bn is still unutilised and domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Okonjo-Iweala explained that the improvement in the implementation ratio of the 2012 budget from 39.2 per cent by the end of May to 56 per cent utilisation of cash-backed resources by June 20 was made possible by the direct leadership of President Jonathan who is personally leading the drive for better budget management. She expressed confidence that there will be further improvement in the level of implementation of the budget before the end of the year. The minister explained that contrary to some media reports, the President and indeed the executive has absolutely no opposition to the implementation of the constituency

projects of the lawmakers. She said the concern of President Jonathan and indeed the entire Federal Executive Council, FEC, was to ensure not only the proper implementation of the budget but also proper utilisation of the nation’s resources, a concern the minister said the lawmakers also share. Okonjo-Iweala further revealed that her ministry has so far released the sum of N1.57 trn for the recurrent expendi-

ture comprising salaries, personnel costs as well as statutory transfers. The minister said so far government has realised 66 per cent of its projected revenue from the Customs, Federal Inland Revenue Services, FIRS, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. She insisted that her ministry has not violated any laws as was being alleged and that she has been complying strictly

with the spirit and intents of the 2012 Appropriation Act. She also maintained that there was no selective implementation of the budget as alleged noting that, “there is no issue of selectivity in the funding of projects by the finance ministry.” The minister explained that all the monetary releases made by her ministry to the MDAs are with the CBN and said it was wrong for people to al-

lege that her ministry was holding back fund earmarked for the execution of projects. She stated that to maximise results, her ministry was being careful and methodical in releasing funds to the MDAs, stressing that given the rate of utilisation, there is still room for more implementation. The minister said in terms of prudent management of resources of CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

L-R: Chairman, Emancipation Support Committee, Mr. Kafra Kambon; President Goodluck Jonathan; Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar; Nigeria’s first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; ESC, Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Hazel Herndon and Sen. Banabas Gemade, at the launch of Emancipation Street Procession in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday.

Lagos goes tough on erring motorists MURITALA AYINLA

agos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday signed the much talked-about Lagos Road Traffic Bill into law. The major objective of the law is to curtail needless loss of lives arising from flagrant flouting of traffic laws by Lagos motorists. With the law, eating, drinking, counting money, making phone calls, texting, pinging or engaging in other dangerous activities while driving is now prohibited. Any offender will be fined N20,000 and N30,000 subsequently. The new law also bars trailers and heavy duty trucks from entering the state or travelling within the state’s metropolis between 6a.m. and 9p.m., while riding on certain roads and times have been outlawed for operators

of the commercial motorcycle, tricycle, wheel-barrow and cart pushers. Operation of commercial motorcycle, also known as Okada, is outlawed in all roads on Lagos Island, Eti-Osa Local Government and other 443 routes in the state metropolis. Contravention of any of these offences attracts three years imprisonment. Fashola said the aim of the law was to protect avoidable loss of lives owing to lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians to the traffic rules. He explained that that the thrust of the law was to address issues and factors affecting life expectancy through avoidable loss of lives resulting from road accidents. He said that the success of the law was not in the number of arrest made but for voluntary compliance with the traffic regulations by

motorists. Harping on the need to bring sanity to the traffic management in the state, Fashola likened the road to the resources that every government must manage with certain rules and regulations to enhance development. The governor noted that from January to July, 2012, 722 cases of road accidents involving 568 males and 154 females were recorded in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, while road accidents recorded at the Accident and Emergency Centre between same period was 252. He said: “Out of this number, 568 were male and 154 were female. At the Accident and Emergency Centre at Toll Gate, 252 accidents were recorded from January to July out of which 35 persons died. “Fifty per cent of the victims were okada riders, 27 per cent were

passengers on okada, while 23 per cent were passersby. “Can we then pretend that we do not know about this and then we do not act? This is our response and we will hope it would bring success. We are all joined at the hip to reclaim our society back. “We expect cooperation and we are recruiting lawyers from the private sector to prosecute cases and the state attorneygeneral will lead the prosecution counsel.” Speaking shortly before the governor signed the bill into law, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the law was a review of earlier Road Traffic Law which was last amended in 2003. He explained that the review was necessary in view of the changing trend in the society, stressing that some of the provisions of the old law CONTINUED ON PAGE 5>>

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 3, 2012

Photo News

Friday, August 3, 2012

L-R: Head of Unit Field Monitoring, Corps Public Education Office, Federal Road Safety Corps Mrs. Dorothy Ikpeme; Corps Commander, Mr. Jonas Agwu; Abuja Acting Bureau Chief, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr Obiora Ifoh and Assistant Editor Business, Mr Tola Akinmutimi, during a courtesy visit to National Mirror Newspapers Office by the Federal Road PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA Safety Corps in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Director, Individual and Enterprises Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Peter Olayimi; Acting Chairman, FIRS, Alh Kabir Mashi and Director, Communications and Liaison, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta, during the Sensitisation Workshop on Personal Income Tax Amendment for Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

L-R: Winner, Ecowas Peace Pageant, Miss Fatoumata Diallo; President, Ecowas Commission, Mr. Desire Ouedraogo and commissioner for Human Development and Gender, Dr Andrienne Diop, during prizes presentation ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe; Chinese Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. Liu Xianfia and Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Compol Tunde Ogunsakin, during the a workshop held for Chinese Community in Nigeria in Lagos, yesterday

National News

Subsidy trial: Sack Mariam Ali now, rights’ group urges Jonathan SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

he Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs. Mariam Ali, yesterday came under fire for standing surety for one of the oil marketers, standing trial before an Ikeja High Court, Christian Taylor, a Sierra Leonean. Already, a group, the Forum for Justice and Human Rights Defence, FJHD, has called on Jonathan, to relieve Mrs. Ali, who is also the wife of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, of her appointment. FJHD, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Oghenejabor Ikimi, described the action of the special adviser, as morally wrong and against national interest. Ikimi said: “This is because since the subsidy fraud saga became a nation-

al issue public perception on the issue has been that government officials and highly placed Nigerians are involved in the entire scam, hence Mrs. Ali’s conduct in the above regard is not only shameful, being a top government official but same speaks volume about the level of involvement of top government officials in the above scam. “Furthermore, Nigerians strongly believe that the above action of Mrs. Ali confirms her involvement in the said scam as Mr. Taylor would have been acting all the while as a front to Mrs. Ali and others and as such we call on the EFCC to properly investigate the relationship exiting between the duo. “I therefore call on President Goodluck Jonathan to forthwith relive Mrs. Ali of her duties in the presidency for her to be properly investigated by the EFCC as her personal interest seems to be above national interest.”

Crashed Dana plane airworthy –spokesman tells Coroner FRANCIS FAMOROTI

Lagos State coroner’s court conducting inquest into the Dana air crash in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos, was yesterday told that the illfated plane had an engine failure two years ago. Testifying at the resumed hearing of the inquest, a spokesman of Dana Airline, Mr. Tony Usidamen told the presiding magistrate, Mr. Alexander Oyetade, that the airline eventually replaced the engine in the interest of its passengers. In his testimony, Usidamen, who is the head of corporate communications with the airline, said when the airline discovered on April 19, 2010 that the engine of the plane was bad, it returned to safety and efforts was made to change it. The airline’s spokesman who is the first wit-

ness to mount the witness box since the inquest commenced, however denied knowledge of the claim that the aircraft had hydraulic leaks in May. A counsel, Mr Adewale Adeniyi had asked him if he was aware that the same aircraft, on May 23, 2012 had hydraulic leaks. Usidamen declined to give the name of the aeronautical engineer, who certified the air worthiness of the aircraft before the ill-fated flight, when cross –examined further by another counsel, Mr. Akintunde Bakare, from the ministry of justice. The magistrate then threatened to arrest him if he didn’t furnish the court with the names of the engineers. But the witness merely told the court that the engineer, who certified the airworthiness of the airline on June 3, 2012 and several other engineers were still employees of

Dana. Usidamen stunned the court when he testified that the ill-fated plane was in good and perfect working condition shortly before the flight. He said if the aircraft was not airworthy in line with the international law and global aviation standards, it would not be allowed to fly. He explained that the plane had earlier gone on two trips on the fateful day and it was during the third trip that it crashed. He also said that the same pilot, who was killed in the crash, had flown the plane on the first two trips of the day. Another witness, Mr. Emmanuel Dialla, from the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, told the coroner that the bureau’s investigation team recovered 15 per cent wreckage of the crashed plane. He said the remaining parts got melted in the fire adding that the AIB

was able to recover the wings, tail and the burnt engines, which would aid further investigation. Dialla, an engineer, said the bureau’s role is mainly investigation and is non-punitive, neither was its duty to apportion blame. Crossed-examined by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, the witness said the preliminary report submitted to the court was based on its factual findings. He said investigation was yet to be completed and he could not say if there was still going to be any addition to the report. He stated that his colleagues would be travelling to Miami and Arizona in the United States to interact with the manufacturer of the plane, adding that the bureau did not have the required manpower and laboratory equipment for further investigation.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, August 3, 2012

Impeachment threat: Ijaw warlords dare Reps SOLA ADEBAYO WARRI

jaw warlords in the Niger Delta yesterday threatened to throw the country into chaos if the House of Representatives carried out its threat to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged poor implementation of the 2012 budget. Already, a group in the oil-rich belt, Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, NDPVF, headed by Alhaji Mujarhedeen Asari-Dokubo, said it was warming up “for action” ahead of the September resumption of plenary by the House of Representatives, when the impeachment threat was expected to be actualised.

The group described the action of the House as an invitation to national crisis, akin to the Nigerian civil war, adding that its reaction to the impeachment of Jonathan would spell doom for the country. It will be recalled that the House of Representatives had on July 19 threatened to impeach Jonathan if he failed to achieve 100 per cent implementation of the 2012 budget by September. The Senate has also backed the lower chamber of the National Assembly on the matter and summoned the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday to avail the lawmakers with the position of

the Presidency on the festering issue. Asari-Dokubo in his reaction on behalf of NDPVF dismissed the claims of the National Assembly, adding that the accusation of poor budget implementation against the government was “merely calling a dog a bad name in order to hang it.” Asari-Dokubo told National Mirror that the issue of poor implementation of budget was not a new development, adding that it did not start with the Jonathan’s administration. The NDPVF lamented that former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successor, the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, was never threatened with im-

peachment moves when they were in power, despite that they did not implement the budget faithfully. He said that the position of the National Assembly on the 2012 budget was part of the agenda to distabilise and truncate Jonathan’s administration. He said: “Why is it that it is everything that Jonathan does that is different? Obasanjo was there as president and he never implemented any budget in eight years. Obasanjo even refused to sign appropriation bills. The National Assembly will pass the appropriation, he will not sign. Obasanjo was spending money without appropriation and yet he was not impeached.

“Yar’Adua came and did the same thing. These people (Reps) are looking for our troubles, they are pushing us, testing the ground for crisis. They will see what they are looking for at the appropriate time. They will see the crisis. These people will be the losers and they will crawl and beg. “We have not forgotten how they threatened fire and brimstones if Jonathan wins PDP primaries and how they threatened to distabilise his government if he wins the general election. They are seeking troubles and they will see it.

Lagos goes tough on erring motorists CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (left) presenting the Lagos State Road Traffic Law to the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips, in Lagos, yesterday.

“If Boko Haram is giving them troubles, our own will be a million times more than what they are seeing with Boko Haram. The Nigerian civil war will be a child’s play compared to what we are going to do if anything happens to Jonathan. “They should allow us to rest, they are pushing us to the wall and when we reach a stage, we will face them.” Asari-Dokubo addded that Jonathan’s administration was being frustrated by a group whose agenda was to rule the country perpetually.

were still retained in the new law. Ipaye noted that with the new law, the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, officials could now use a drug detecting devices (breathalyzers) on motorists to check drug abuse. The attorney-general said: “It is an offence to sell alcoholic drink, herbal or pharmaceutical drug within metres of a bus stop, terminus or motor park; to trade, hawk or vend or offer for sale any item of goods or services or to beg or solicit alms; and to engage in

cleaning of windscreens or any part of vehicle on the highways.” Ipaye added that it was now illegal for commercial vehicles to operate without obtaining licence from the state Ministry of Transportation, stressing that owners of unregistered vehicles risked forfeiture of such vehicles. The signing of the bill was witnessed by members of the state executive council, senior police officers, LASTMA officials, Nigerian Navy, VIOs, Nigerian Army and other law enforcement agencies.

Okonjo-Iweala admits 14% budget performance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

the country her ministry will not toy with public resources because they belong to all Nigerians. Earlier in his brief remarks before declaring open the interactive session Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba said the National Assembly was concerned about the proper implementation of the budget hence the reason for insisting that the minister briefed the lawmaker, indeed all Nigerians on the progress level of the budget. He said the National Assembly was worried with the rumour that the constituency projects were the reason for the slow pace of the budget imple-

mentation. He wondered how a mere N100bn negotiated threshold, which constitutes constituency projects, could be the cause for the delay in the implementation of the budget. “The interaction has been worthwhile because it has put both sides in a better picture about the workings of the budget. We are now better informed about the budget and some of the grey areas,” Senator Ahmed Maccido, chairman of the appropriation committee and senate joint committees said in his closing remarks. Even before the interaction session was formally brought to a close, most of the senators sensing that

‘war’ was not imminent as had been anticipated quietly took their exits one after the other such that at the end of the event only few of the lawmakers were still left seated at the high table. Meanwhile, the Senate President David Mark said yesterday that the disagreement between the legislature and the executive over the nonimplementation of the 2012 budget was necessary. The senator said this at a public event in Abuja yesterday. He said that the rift between the two arms of government became necessary in order to achieve the common ob-

jective of ensuring that ordinary Nigerians benefitted from the dividends of democracy. According to him: “The rift between the executive and the National Assembly is a necessary disagreement for us to come to one simple objective. “The final objective for the legislature and the executive is that the ordinary Nigerian on the street must see the dividends of democracy. “The intricacies and mechanism that result to this is not truly the problem of the ordinary Nigerian. So, when we talk of whether we have implemented the budget to 56 per cent or to 21 per cent

or to 36 per cent, the man who is walking on the street in Nigeria is not interested in those figures. “He wants to see that there are infrastructures on the ground for him to utilise. He wants to be employed. He wants to have three square meals in his house. He wants security to do his business. He wants to have enough power.” Mark, who said the disagreement was exaggerated, called on both arms of government to sheath their swords and work toward the growth of the economy. He called on both arms of government to concentrate more on meeting the yearnings and aspirations

of Nigerians, rather than debating on the level of budget so far implemented. “We should not begin to preach about percentage, I think we should worry more on how these percentages have been translated to realities on ground. “But let me also say that I think there is an over exaggeration as to the rift between the executive and the legislature, we are all working for Nigeria, but I must emphasise that the legislators are the elected representatives of the people and we wear the shoes, so we should know where they hurt most and I think people should listen to us,” he said.

National News

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Panic in Abuja as police evacuate ‘explosives’ OMEIZA AJAYI

he discovery of an explosive device around the Nyanya/Mararaba axis of Abuja yesterday caused pandemonium in parts of the nation’s capital. Earlier reports said an Improvised Explosive Device, IED, was found at Dunamis Church, in the

area which provides a buffer between the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Nasarawa State. A senior police source at the scene confirmed the discovery of a black polythene bag but explained that the Explosive Ordinance Unit of the FCT Police Command had dismissed the report as the bag contained only a pack of perfume and other materials.

He said: “I was among the first persons that got to the scene and I called the FCT Bomb Unit. “On their prompt arrival, they used the equipment and took it away after discovering that it contained cans of perfume and other materials. There was no glass cylinder among the items as alleged. “I think it’s a calculated attempt to cause disunity

and suspicion among the residents. I have worked as a senior police officer for many years here and all of us love and cherish one another irrespective of your belief so please disregard the rumour.” At the time, most residents of the area had gone to work in the city centre, but some youths in the area insisted that what they saw was an explosive device.

However, the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Yushau Shuaib, dismissed such claims in a statement. He said: “No report of any explosion was received from any of our alert system’s call centres. Already, rescue officers have visited the area without any sign of untoward development. The

Police discover arms in Ogbomosho

Road crashes: FRSC will review its strategies –Agwu OMEIZA AJAYI AND MARCUS FATUNMOLE

he Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has expressed its resolve to review its strategies in the past 24 years of its existence and evolve modern and practicable ways of halting road crashes in the country. The commission announced its decision yesterday when some of its top officials led by the Corps Pubic Education Officer, Mr. Jonas Agwu, visited the Abuja office of National Mirror newspaper. Agwu said that although the FRSC was concerned about the deplorable state of roads in parts of the country, the situation of such roads was not a tenable justification for any auto crash. He said: “Globally, one of the fundamental causes of road crashes is the human factor. I am happy that government is responding to the issue of bad roads but the very fundamental one is about how we use the roads. Good roads, bad roads do not cause crashes. It is the bad usage of the road or the vehicle that results in crashes. “So, educating the mindset of people and remoulding them is a key strategy for us and one of the things we are doing in line with that is a review of our strategies in the last 24 years and come up with more creative ways to reach out.” Commending National Mirror for partnering with the FRSC and for the paper’s rapid transformation in less than two years of its existence, Agwu urged the media to continue to accord more priority to issues of road traffic and safety.

public is advised to ignore such rumours.” When contacted on phone, the Nasarawa State Police Public Relations Office, DSP Cornelius, said he was not aware of the incident because he had been ill and was not at work yesterday. Efforts to reach the new PPRO in the FCT Command were futile as her mobile phone was off.

L-R: Chairman, Star Times Group, China, Pang Xing, Senate President David Mark, Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, at the second anniversary of NTA-Star TV network and the launch of mobile TV in Abuja, yesterday.

First ladies’ land tussle: Ex-FCT minister blames Turai, Aliero

ormer Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Dr. Aliyu Moddibo Umar, has cleared the air over the controversy surrounding the parcel of land between the former First Lady, Hajia Tura’i Yar’Adua and her predecessor, Dame Patience Jonathan. He saidthat he allocated the land to African First Ladies Peace Mission, AFLPM, in 2008. Moddibo, who served as Minister of FCT between 2007 and 2008, explained that it was his successor, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, who changed the concept of the land and reallocated it to Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation, WAYEF, a non-governmental organization belonging to Turai, two years later. The former minister made the clarifications in an interview with the Hausa Service of the Voice of America yesterday. The report was monitored in Abuja.

Moddibo said that there was no controversy about it as the land was allocated to ALPM and a certificate of occupancy (C of 0) prepared for the mission. He said: “When I became minister, I brought the idea for the building of the secretariat as a legacy the former First Lady would leave behind. “I consulted the former President (the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua) and advised him on the project and after she became the leader of the African First Ladies Mission. “I told him that the NGO needed a secretariat to build an edifice just like the Women Centre built by the late Maryam Babangida and the National Hospital built by Maryam Abacha. “He (Yar’Adua) agreed and told me to look for a land. When I eventually found the land, I prepared a Certificate of Occupancy and the structural design of the proposed secretariat before I reported back to

him. “He appreciated the effort and directed me to meet her with the proposal. “After a discussion, she accepted the idea and set up a committee which comprising the FCTA and Foreign Affairs officials as well as Maryam Abacha, the late Murtala Muhammad’s wife (Ajoke) and Patience.” The former FCT minister said that the late Presi-

dent Yar’Adua warned him not to allocate any land to either his wife or children. He clarified that he allocated the land to an NGO (AFLPM) and not an individual. Efforts to get the response of Moddibo’s successor, Aliero, to explain why he allegedly reallocated the same land to Turai for her private NGO proved abortive as his two numbers were not reachable.

I’m 58 years old, not 60, says Sambo ROTIMI FADEYI ABUJA

ice-President Namadi Sambo has cleared the air over the controversy surrounding his age, as he said he was 58 years old and not 60 as reported in a section of the media. The Senior Special Adviser to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, said in a statement yesterday that Sambo was born on August 2,

1954, which made him 58 years old and not 60 as reported. He said: “Our attention was drawn to some advertorials sponsored in some national media by well-meaning Nigerians and some respected organisations and bodies, showering encomiums on the person and office of Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, placing his birth age at 60.”

olice in Oyo State said yesterday that they had discovered a cache of arms which included some AK 47 rifles and locally made pistols. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tambari Mohammed, told newsmen in Ibadan that the discovery was made following a tip-off to the Ogbomosho Area Commander, ACP Patrick Ezani. Mohammed, who spoke through the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Clement Adoda, said two suspects arrested for inter-state robberies led policemen to the hide out where the arms were discovered. He said the suspects, a male and female, aged between 27 and 34, were arrested in a building at Ajao area of Ogbomosho. A search however, led to the recovery of the arms, a cell phone and one Toyota Camry saloon car marked Lagos MUS 159 AG. He said some clergy garments and some objects suspected to be charms were also recovered while additional four suspects were arrested. In a similar development, the command also arrested a fake sergeant for impersonation. The fake sergeant, who claimed to be serving in MOPOL 2 Lagos, was fully dressed in uniform adorned with sergeant rank. He was accosted on the Ife - Ibadan Expressway while escorting a Dyna truck marked Lagos XZ 239 FST. A fake police warrant card with force number 199663 was also found on him.

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Friday, August 3, 2012

6, 900 languages may go into extinction, says expert IJEOMA EZEIKE ABUJA

he Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, yesterday said by the next century, more than half of the world’s estimated 6, 900 languages will go into extinction of which Nigeria may be involved. Dr. Barclays, who said this at the opening ceremony of the one-month Indigenous Language Programme (ILP) organised by the institute, said the event

was initiated in response to the disheartening situation concerning the status of languages globally and the nation’s local languages. His words: “Already, experts are of the opinion that with the rising rate at which Nigerian languages are steadily endangered, most indigenous languages will go into extinction in the next three decades, while about 90 percent of languages are estimated to be replaced by dominant ones by the turn of the century.” Ayakoroma called on Nigerians to embrace the na-

tion’s local languages with the aim of preserving and promoting the nation’s culture. In his words: “There is no gainsaying the fact that language plays a pivotal role in the promotion, preservation and propagation of culture and is the vehicle for the transmission of our intangible cultural heritage. “It is therefore imperative to note that an inextricable connection exists between languages and culture, so when a language dies, it leads to the loss of cherished cultural, histori-

cal and ecological knowledge of a people, which are unique to them.” He appealed to all and sundry to pay attention to and support language revitalisation programmes, noting that parents have a critical role to play in ensuring that their children speak their local dialects. Ealier, the royal father of the day, Alhaji Usman Ngakupi, Sa’Peyi of Garki said he cannot claim ignorance of Nigeria’s indigenous languages that are fading away. Usman Ngakupi wondered why most Nigerians

cannot communicate in their mother tongue, pointing out that parents prefer communicating with their children in English language to the detriment of the nation’s indigenous languages. “My people, there is serious need to address this emerging trend which is already eating deep into every aspect of our lives, I see it as a slap on our faces that foreign languages are gaining prominence over our indigenous languages, to the extent that a child would be penalised at home and schools for

communicating in his or her mother tongue,” he stated. The royal father called on all traditional rulers who are custodians of culture and tradition to reexamine their roles and re-direct themselves to the enormous task so that the nation can easily preserve and transfer indigenous languages from generation to generation. He, however, said that NICO has helped to foster the preservation of indigenous languages and sustenance of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

Abductors of Anambra monarch demand $100m ransom

L-R: Daughter of late Dr. Ike Abugu, who was a victim of the Dana plane crash, Ijeoma; brother, Emmanuel, wife, Uzoamaka and another daughter, Chinaemerem, during the service of songs for Abugu in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Former Managing Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Francis Atuche; brother of the late Dr. Ike Abugu, who was a victim of the Dana PHOTOS: YINKA ADEPARUSI plane crash, Emmanuel and Andy Njoku-Obi, during the service of songs in Lagos, yesterday.

ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Lamido Sanusi, has on doused the fears raised by the United Kingdom-based Fitch Ratings that recent rapid credit growth in the country’s banking sector might give rise to weakened as-

bductors of Igwe Chukwudilim Eze, the traditional ruler of Ukpo community in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State are demanding a ransom $100 million for his release. A source close to the monarch’s family told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ukpo yesterday that the kidnappers also insisted that the ransom be paid in dollars. “They called a cousin to the traditional ruler and insisted that they should be paid in dollars and they are demanding that they should be paid $100 million.” NAN recalled that Eze was abducted on July 30, at his palace at about 11.20 am after returning from a church service at St. Mary Anglican Church. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Raphael Uzoigwe, said preliminary investigation by the police revealed that four gunmen carried out the attack, but that no life was lost. In his reaction to the demand of the abductors, Uzoigwe said it was not in the character of the police to negotiate with kidnappers. “We do not have knowl-

edge of such ransom been demanded by the abductors. It is not our duty to negotiate with kidnappers. “Ours is to arrest them and I can assure you that we are working toward arresting them,” Uzoigwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said. NAN recalled that Eze, a first class traditional ruler, was the fourth traditional ruler to be kidnapped in the state in the past two years. In his reaction to the kidnapping of traditional rulers, the traditional ruler of Enugwu-Ukwu, Chijioke Nwankwo, urged the government to take proactive measures to save the traditional institution in the state from embarrassment and ridicule. “We have become an endangered species in this respect,” he said, adding that kidnappers should be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as deterrent to others. He also stressed the need for adequate funding of traditional institutions to enable them boost security around them. He expressed regrets that states in the South-East had exposed traditional rulers to danger and odium by not remunerating them adequately.

Sanusi dismisses Fitch’s report on Nigerian banks set quality and higher impairment charges if left unchecked Sanusi criticized the report while speaking at an investment conference in London saying that he is not bothered by the rating agency’s report that rapid credit growth or lending

by Nigerian banks might lead to weakened assets According to the CBN governor, “In my job, I have more information on the banks than Fitch has, and I don’t have the concerns that Fitch has.” He however noted that falling oil prices and do-

mestic energy output due to declining global demand are a concern for Nigeria’s economy. The worsening situation in the Euro zone and rising global food prices may also push inflation higher, Sanusi said in an interview on Nigeria

investment conference, adding that the country’s slower growth and tighter fiscal discipline could counter balance those upward effects. Nigeria is among the top 10 crude oil exporters in the world and is one of Goldman Sachs’s N-11

emerging economies after the power houses of the BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China. Nigeria’s 2012 budget is based on an oil price of $72 a barrel and oil fell below $90 in recent weeks, though it has since reached $100.

South West

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ondo: Police intimidating our members –PDP HAKEEM GBADAMOSI AKURE

he Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday accused the police of indiscriminately arresting its members in Ondo State. Speaking at a press conference in Akuue, the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi, alleged that the police arrested PDP members over the clash with members of the Labour Party, LP, in Irele

in Irele Local Government Area at the weekend. He also accused the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of hurriedly taking over the case of the arrested members without allowing proper investigation into the matter. Alabi also said about five members of the party, including a member of the House of Representatives, Chief Albert Akintoye, were arrested and detained by solders and charged to court

in Akure on Wednesday. He alleged that the LP members in Irele on Sunday disrupted the declaration of some members of the party who defected to PDP. This, he explained, led to the fracas between the two parties. Reacting to the allegation, the State Police Command said it investigated the crisis and those found culpable were arrested and taken to court. The state Police Public

Relations Officer, Adeniran Aremu, absolved the police of any complicity or bias in treating the case. But the PDP chairman alleged that the caretaker Chairman of the council, Hon. Tobi Akinbiola, led some thugs to the venue of the event, while members of the party chased them away. Alabi said the PDP, as required by convention, had earlier applied for a permit to hold the rally and was granted by the Divisional Police Officer in the local

government. The chairman, however, said the party petitioned the state police command over the matter, adding that despite this, the police went ahead to prosecute some PDP members. He said: “To our amazement, on Monday 30th July, the police and soldiers embarked on a spate of arrest of members of our party. Some of those arrested by the soldiers were taken to the Army Barracks in Okitipupa where they were in-

terrogated, including Hon. Albert Akintoye, member of the House of Representatives representing the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency. “The others were taken to police headquarters, Akure where they were detained and tortured for two days before being arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Akure, on Wednesday 1st August, 2012 and subsequently remanded at Olokuta Prison, Akure.”

Third Mainland Bridge closure now Aug 12 –Opeifa MURITALA AYINLA

T L–R: Mr. Adegboyega Adekoya; Dr. Oluwatoyin Fagbemi; former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba; and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; at the burial and outing service for the late Erelu Olayiwola Oyesola Aina, held at Wesley Methodist Cathedral, Iperu-Remo, yesterday.

NDLEA arrests man, 45, with cocaine in his anus OLUSEGUN KOIKI

ational Drug Law Enforcement Agency yesterday said that it arrested a suspected drug trafficker, Mr. Obivuko Aloysius Ifeanyi, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, with 210 grams of cocaine. Obivuko, who was said to have inserted the drugs into his anus, was detected with the aid of the body scanner during the inward clearance of passengers from Turkish airline No.TK0625 from Brazil. The Acting Head, Public Affairs, NDLEA, Mr. Henry Ndukwu, said in a statement that the recently installed body scanner had further exposed the antics of traffickers in all the international airports in the country. Commenting on the arrest, the NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, said drug traffickers were currently on the run from

MMIA because of the renewed onslaught by his men, coupled with the new body scanner donated by the United States. He said that while other traffickers had fled to other airports in the country, Obivuko decided to take the risk and was apprehended by his officers attached to the airport. Umar noted that insertion by men was a rare and dangerous mode of drug concealment, but said his men were ever ready to beat drug traffickers in their own game. The suspect, who hails from Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, said he ventured into the drug business to give his in-law who died in Brazil a befitting burial here in Nigeria. Obivuko who, until his arrest, was a dealer in ladies’ weave-on, and had lived in Brazil for eight years, said he regretted his action. He said: “It is unfortunate that I found myself in

this kind of situation. It is the greatest mistake of my life and I have learnt my lessons in a very hard way. I bear no grudges against the NDLEA because they are carrying out their constitutional duties, but I plead with them to temper justice with mercy. I got into this mess for N400,000. See how I have been messed up.” Also arrested by NDLEA operatives, according to Ndukwu, was Okoro Chris-

topher, 39, with 1.425kg of substances which tests confirmed was methamphetamine cleverly packed in shoes. He was said to have been arrested during the outward clearance of passengers from Iberia airline to Germany. The suspect hails from Amazoana village, Orlu in Imo State. He was formerly a motor parts dealer before leaving Nigeria 12 years ago for Germany.

he second complete diversion of traffic on the Third Mainland Bridge initially scheduled for August 5, will now take place on August 12. The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who disclosed this in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, explained that the concrete casting of the second and third expansion joints inward Lagos Island would now be done on August 12. Commending motorists for their cooperation during the closure for the concrete casting of one of the expansion joints last Sunday, Opeifa urged road users to make use of the existing alternative routes during the time. The commissioner urged motorists to always obey traffic rules and regulations as well as the

Webometrics ranking: UNILAG best varsity in Nigeria TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

he University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, has been ranked the best university in the country and 16th in Africa. The University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, which is ranked 39th in Africa, is second in the country. In the new global ranking of universities released by Webometrics, a

Cybermetrics Laboratory, which is a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC, a largest public research body in Spain, University of Ibadan, UI, came third in Nigeria and 40th in Africa, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife came fourth in Nigeria and 42th in Africa, while the University of Benin, Benin City, came fifth in Nigeria and 45th in Afri-

ca. All are public universities. With this ranking, UNILAG is the first university in Nigeria to be ranked among the 20 best universities in Africa. Since 2004, Webometrics Ranking of World Universities is published twice a year (data is collected during the first weeks of January and July), covering more than 20,000 higher education institutions worldwide.

officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, who are on the road to ensure free flow of traffic. He said: “Motorists inward Lagos Island and Ikeja will experience complete diversion of traffic from the bridge and will be restricted from having access to the bridge from 6am to midnight on Sunday, 12th August, 2012.” Opeifa commended the efforts of the contractor, Messrs Borini Prono, for the successful execution of the casting of the first joint out of the three joints inward Lagos Island which he said was carried out within the scheduled timeline. He, however, disclosed that motorists could use the Third Mainland Bridge the way it was been used on Sunday. The commissioner appealed to motorists to bear with the government as the repair works and diversions were to ensure the safety of road users and in the general interest of all.

Opeifa

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South West

Friday, August 3, 2012

Seven in police net over Oyo’s N2.6bn pension scam KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN

he Oyo State Police Command yesterday said seven civil servants involved in the alleged N2.6bn pension scam uncovered at the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission Pensions Board have been detained pending investigation. The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, said this while addressing journalists at the command’s head-

quarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. He said the discovery of the N2.6bn pension scam was reported to the police command on Wednesday by the state government. He said the command immediately ordered men of its Criminal Investigative Department (CID) to take over the investigation on the circumstances surrounding the alleged N2.6bn scam and that the suspects are helping detectives on the ongoing investigation. Adoda said two other suspects being trailed by

the command in connection with th e alleged scam would soon be nabbed, adding that the command would leave no stone unturned at getting to the root of the scam. On other activities of the command, he said a six-man gang of armed robbers, including a fake prophet and five others comprising of three women and two men are already in police net. He said the suspected robbers, who confessed to specialise in interstate robbery were arrested in a

Ekiti senators plan N600m joint project

he three senators from Ekiti State are considering a joint constituency project in the form of an irrigation scheme valued at N600 million. The project is expected to be sited in Ekiti North Senatorial District of the state. Senator Babafemi Ojudu, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja. Ojudu said the project was informed by the need to establish a single giant project rather than three minor schemes scattered across the three senatorial districts of the state. The senators are; Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North Senatorial District); Senator Anthony

Adeniyi (Ekiti South Senatorial Districts) and Ojudu. “We saw an opening in a tradition that had been in the Senate, whereby in every year a senator will look at his constituency and identify a project that he can nominate to be sponsored by the budget. “So we decided that rather than just pick some projects that will not be of consequence to our constituent the three of us should come together and do a big project. “Each of the senators is entitled to a project worth N200 million in the budget, they will not give you cash, but you will nominate a project and that project is domiciled within the relevant ministries. “The Ministry will come and execute it, while you find a way to supervise it to make sure they do a good

job. So, we decide to pick on agriculture. “N600 million of what is due to us is now being committed to irrigating about 2,000 hectares of land in Ekiti.” Ojudu said the project would provide greater job opportunities for more than 1,000 Ekiti youths irrespective of their area of origin. These joint projects according to Ojudu will rotate annually within the three senatorial districts. Ojudu said there had been a synergy between him and the other colleagues from Ekiti and the state government to form a partnership on how to move the state forward. He said the land would be apportioned to more than 1,000 youths with adequate training in mechanised farming under the Israeli irrigation farming system.

Badagry LG tussle: Lagos CJ sets up Appeal Tribunal WALE IGBINTADE

he Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, has set up an Appeal Tribunal to resolve the stalemate that arose in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Mustapha Adisa Dada, challenging the election of ACN candidate, Husi-Tode Moses Dosu as chairman of Badagry Central Local Government. The five-man Appeal Tribunal has Justice Opeyemi

Justice Ayotunde Phillips

Oke (Chairman), Samuel Candide-Johnson (member), Mojisola Dada (member), Habib Abiru, (member) and Olatunde Oshodi (member). National Mirror gathered that the Appeal Tribunal will start sitting in September. The Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal (LASIEC) sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square had in their verdict created the stalemate. While the chairman of the panel, Justice Francis Owobiyi (rtd.) and Mr. Wasiu Animashaun (member) resolved the dispute in favour of the PDP, two others members, Chief Magistrates Eniola Fabamiwo and S.O. Solebo resolved the issue in favour of ACN. However, a member of the panel, R. O. Davies created the deadlock as he remained neutral. However, Davies who had adopted the position

of the chairman added that he could not rule in favour of the PDP because of his earlier position, that the petition was filed outside 30 days. The counsel of the PDP candidate, Mr. Azeez Olagoke, told National Mirror that he had obtained a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement and filed appeal against the judgment of the tribunal. Meanwhile, members of the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), are delighted at what they referred to as a stalemate in the judgement and argued that the status quo must be maintained. The PDP chairmanship candidate, Mr. Mustapha Adisa Dada, had in his petition against the ACN candidate, Husi-Tode, who was declared the elected chairman of Badagry Local Government, alleged irregularities and fraud in the election.

building in Ogbomoso following a tip off from residents of the area. The police boss said following a search on the building where the suspects were arrested, one AK 49 rifle, two locally made double-barreled pistols with five live cartridges, two AK47 rifles, one double SIM Techno handset, one Nokia handset, one Toyota Camry Saloon car, were among items recovered from them. It will be recalled that the Chairman of the state Local Government Service Commission, Chief Lasisi Ayankojo on Wednesday alerted that the state government has uncovered a N2.6bn pension scam in the state Local Government Service Pensions Board. He said no fewer than 10 serving civil servants in the commission had being indicted over the alleged scam which was discovered through an interim investigative report of the commission set up to look into the accounts of the pension board between September 2010 and March, 2011.

Aregbesola restates commitment to qualitative education WALE FOLARIN OSOGBO

sun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday restated his resolve to provide qualitative education for the people of the state, in order for them to develop their potentials and also to prepare them for the challenges of the future. Aregbesola made this declaration in Ejigbo, Osun State while speaking during the turning of the sod of the government owned Model High School. According to him, his administration’s notion of education was not just enrolment in an educational institution where one bids time and obtain certificate later, but one that approximate to the cultivation of the intellect, proper literacy, character building and the development for the total person. The governor said his administration’s assessment of the state of education in the state revealed

Politics

shocking discovery of a system in shambles. His words: “What we discovered shocked us to our bone marrow. The schools have been completely run aground. The entire infrastructure of education had collapsed. The pupils were disoriented and being prepared for a dysfunctional life. “Teachers were not motivated and the environment of schooling was suffocating. What were celebrated as schools would probably not be accepted as pigsties in some developed countries. “They were not fit for human habitation. Where the walls were not collapsing, the roofs had caved in. Essential furniture and teaching aids were absent. The science students did not even know what a functional laboratory looks like.” According to him, the results of this degenerate state of education led to drastic reduction in enrolment in public schools and private schools emerged to fill the gap.

Saturday Starter

Boko Haram: When Who wants state police? dialogue is non-negotiable State Police may be theoretically good, but •Talk is the key word. The more we talk, the more we understand one another – Tony Uranta, Executive Secretary, National Dialogue Steering Committee (NDSC) •There’s nowhere in the world where force has worked against terrorism – Anthony Sani, spokesman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF)

looking at our political environment, it could be abused to the detriment of the country. –President Goodluck Jonathan.

•Dialogue will stop these dastardly acts – Reuben Fasoranti, leader of Afenifere

It is contradiction in terms to call state governors the chief security ofÀcers of their states and yet they don’t have control over the instrumentalities of security control. – Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor

Living

Nigerians and open defecation

The position of the Nigeria Police before now on the issue of state police has not changed. Nigeria is not ripe enough for a State Police, period! — IGP Mohammed Abubakar

Once you are under the federal system, beside any other thing, state police is very important in a federal system. Besides, with the problem we are having in the country there is justiÀcation for state The toilet in our house is bad, its sight alone police. -- Chief Ayo Adebanjo, lawyer and Afenifere could make you throw up. You will be left with chieftain no option than to look for a little bushy place to do it. -- Sule Musa The reason is clear. Security is a local issue, unless we go back to a decentralised police arrangement we can never resolve the issue of our security in this country. --- Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu

About 33million Nigerians deposit 1.7million tonnes of faeces into the environment annually –UNICEF report

Celebrity

I went for GUS to prove I’m tough Christopher

Okagbue

Crime Watch Crime of passion He told me that he would marry me once he was able to raise enough money for the wedding. So I decided to assist in raising part of the money by agreeing to travel with the drug. –Suspect

x SeTalk 20 ways to have sex like an Olympian This column is x-rated

South East

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Gunmen kill special assistant to Imo Speaker CHRIS NJOKU OWERRI

he Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Pastor Emmanuel Aduba, has been murdered by unknown gunmen. Pastor Adubo, who until his death was a min-

ister with the Winners Chapel in Owerri was assassinated at about 2.00 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012 while asleep. It was gathered that he was killed in his bedroom at Okwukwu in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state. But the Speaker of the

state House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu, has announced an award of N500,000 to anybody or group that may provide information that could lead to the arrest of the killers. According to a source close to the family, the victim, who reported for work on Wednesday at

the Assembly complex, did not know that he was being monitored as he left for home after the day’s work. National Mirror investigation revealed that the gruesome murder of the pastor might not be unconnected with the protracted Ezeship tussle in his community

which he was allegedly accused of trying to use his relationship with the speaker to upturn in his favour. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been deposited in a hospital in Owerri, waiting for autopsy. When contacted on phone, the Imo State Po-

lice Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Vitalis Onugu while confirming the story said the police has stepped into the matter to fish out those responsible for the killing and appealed to members of the public to offer information that could help the police get at the root of the matter.

World Bank commended for setting up vocational centre NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, discussing with officials of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Enugu State Distribution Company (Disco), led by the CEO, Engr. Suleiman Yahaya, on how to improve power situation in Anambra State, in his office yesterday.

Woman, five-month-old baby kidnapped in Asaba NWABUEZE OKONKWO ONITSHA

unmen suspected to be kidnappers yesterday trailed a nursing mother and her five-month-old baby from Onitsha, Anambra State, to the neighbouring Asaba, Delta State, and kidnapped her and her baby. The nursing mother, whose name was given as Mrs. Benedeth Ogbenyeanu Offorkansi, an indigene of Anambra State and a teacher in one of the secondary

schools in Asaba, was taking her kids to school when the kidnapers accosted her and ordered her into their vehicle with her five-monthold baby. National Mirror gathered that the woman was driving her husband’s vehicle at about 7.00 am when the irate kidnappers over-took and blocked her. As she stopped, two of the three-man gang jumped out of their vehicle and ordered the school teacher to hop into their vehicle under gun point, a command she quickly

obeyed in order to avoid being shot. National Mirror also gathered that the kids the victim was taking to school before the incident were abandoned, after their mother and their sibling had been whisked away. One of the kids was quoted as saying; “I called my daddy on phone and narrated what happened and he immediately came and took us back home.” Sources close to the family said the kidnappers had

Jonathan’s aide lauds Obi on development CHARLES OKEKE AWKA

he Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye, yesterday lauded the developmental strides of Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi. He described the projects being executed by Governor Obi’s government as comprehensive and multi-dimensional, which should be a source of inspiration to other

governors in the country. Prof. Monye, who spoke at Awka during his inspection of projects executed by the government at the State Teaching Hospital, Amaku, said he was overwhelmed by what he saw, while urging other state governors to visit Anambra State for a lesson on delivery of projects for the good of the people in line with the learning principles of the Governors Forum Peer Review Mechanism. The presidential adviser, who said he has toured

all parts of the country inspecting projects, said he was amazed at the high level of development and quality of projects completed by Governor Obi in spite of the lean revenue profile of the state. He said the completion and accreditation of the teaching hospital project, the attraction of SAB miller to the state, the erosion work, the bridges built, the renovation of schools, as well as the construction of many roads, remained a commendable feat of the Obi administration.

made contact with the family demanding an amount that ran into tens of millions of naira from the husband who looked bewildered over the incident. Meanwhile, the police in Asaba have swung into action to detect the kidnappers and rescue Mrs. Offorkasi and her baby. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State, Mr. Charles Muka (DSP), said the police in the area were seriously trailing the kidnappers.

he management of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in Orumba South Local government Area of Anambra State has commended the World Bank for converting the temporary site of the institution into a vocational center. The Provost of the College, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, who made the commendation yesterday at the institution’s permanent site while commissioning a 10 KVA power generating set procured by the staff and students of the School of Business Education of the college, said arrangements have reached an advanced stage for the college to move to its permanent site. Ogbuagu expressed satisfaction that through the good managerial ability of their Education Trust Fund (ETF) intervention programme and the Department for International Development (DfID), the World Bank became so impressed that it decided to establish the vocational/skill acquisition center at the temporary site of the college, under its Science/Technology Educa-

tion Step ‘B’ programme. He said the World Bank is expected to install all necessary equipment and facilities for effective take-off of the vocational center as soon as the entire management, staff and students of the college move to the college’s permanent site that is almost completed. The provost said the essence of establishing the center is to add valuable skills to the science and technical knowledge being imparted to the students, to assist them in becoming self-employed after their graduation. He noted that when he assumed office in 2010, the college had only 864 NCE students on its admission list, but by 2011, 2,121 students were admitted for both NCE and degree programmes, adding that efforts are now being made toward admitting more in the coming session.

Gov. Okorocha

Abia’s agro-processing estate suffers setback GEORGE OPARA ABIA

he Federal Government has been urged to take a decisive action on the ongoing construction of an industrial agro-processing estate in Abia State. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Ike Onyenweaku, made the call at Olori, Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state during a joint monitoring exercise on projects sponsored by the

Federal Government. It was gathered that the Federal Government had awarded the N439.5 million contract to Rozi International Nigeria Ltd., and the company was mobilised on September 21, 2012. When completed, the project will house two factories, amenity block, administrative block, utility block, a clinic, and two main factories. Other facilities will include two-detachable bungalow, a bore-hole and four la-

bour lines. The project was to be completed in 12 months, but eight months into its take-off, it has only attained 6.5 percent completion, according to a consultant. “The contractor has shown that he doesn’t have the capacity to deliver the project and this will definitely affect the implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government in Abia State,” he said.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

South South

Friday, August 3, 2012

Confusion over Oyerinde’s murder angers Edo residents SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN BENIN

he parade of different sets of suspects who allegedly killed Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the principal private secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole is causing confusion and disquiet in Edo State. Some of the residents of the state, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday over the parade of six suspects by the State Security Service, SSS, in Abuja

for Oyerinde’s murder, expressed and disgust over the arrest of different sets of people by the police and the SSS. Oyerinde, was shot at close range on his head, chest and stomach in his residence at No. 65, 2nd Ugbor Road in G.R.A., Benin City on May 4. According to his security guard, who had to be untied after the act, four unidentified gunmen stormed the house in the early hours of the day and shot Oyerinde in the presence of his wife and

brother. The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had disclosed in Benin City on July 11 that the police had arrested four suspects who committed the murder. “We have arrested four persons who killed the aide to the governor of Edo State. Investigation is still going on in the case. We will brief the public at the end of our investigation,” Abubakar told journalists without disclosing the names of the suspects. He said the identities of

the suspects would be revealed after investigation was concluded. The case took a dramatic turn on July 27 when police investigators arrested Rev. David Ugolor, a known critic of the Federal Government, in connection with the murder. In a petition which Ugolor’s counsel, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, sent to the IGP, the activist condemned his arrest and detention in an inhuman condition at the Area Command in Benin City.

L-R: Minister of Education, Prof. Rugayyatu Ahmed Rufai, Bayelsa State Education Commissioner, Mr. Salo Adikumo and Governor Seriake Dickson, during the minister’s visit to the Government House in Yenagoa, yesterday.

FG, Rivers sign pact on auto-disabled syringes’ purchase MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

he Federal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with the Rivers State Government on the procurement of new autodisabled syringes which would replace the conventional re-usable ones being used at various health facilities across the country. Health facilities are expected to begin the use of the auto-disabled syringes

from October 1. The MOU is in fulfilment of the decision on the auto-disabled syringes ratified by the National Council on Health at its 55th meeting in Abuja recently. Speaking in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, who signed the MOU on behalf of the Federal Government, said the move was part of Federal Government’s fulfilment of its Transformation Agenda in the health sector. The minister noted that

President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that the MOU on procurement be entered into between Rivers State and the Federal Government. According to him, the company to produce the product, Pan African Heath Foundation, PAHF, was jointly owned by many stakeholders including the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government. He said: “PAHF is the only company in Nigeria that manufactures this product and certified by

the World Health Organisation, WHO, to produce the product in the country. What it means is that this product is a world-class and of international standard and will be produced by one of the only 18 companies world-wide that have got this recognition.” Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, who was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sampson Tamunoiyoriari Parker, said it was a promise fulfilled by the Federal Government to the people of the state.

Jonathan visits amnesty trainees in Trinidad and Tobago

resident Goodluck Jonathan has visited the National Energy Skills Centre, NESC, at Point Lisas, Couva in Trinidad and Tobago in continuation of his threeday state visit to the Caribbean nation. The centre is currently training about 70 Niger Delta youths in heavy equipment operations, crane operations, industrial mechanical maintenance, and other oil and gas-related fields

under the Nigerian government’s amnesty programme for former militants in the oil producing region. The trainees, dressed in orange coveralls with the flags of Trinidad and Tobago and Nigeria stuck in their left sleeve pockets, on Wednesday received the presidential delegation which included Nigerian parliamentarians, Head of Reintegration in the Amnesty Office, Mr. Lawrence Pepple, as well as the host

country’s Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Fazal Karim. The excited Nigerian students greeted the President in his native language and sang their country’s national anthem, forcing the surprised locals in attendance to also sing the Trinidad and Tobago anthem. Jonathan said: “It is a great moment; a moment of joy when I came in and saw young Nigerians, men and women here, greeting

me in my local language, the language we speak in the Niger Delta. “We are here to celebrate success at a time and a day this great country is remembering the circumstances that brought some of the blacks to this country. Today we are marking that emancipation and also celebrating the training of Nigerians. So it is a good occasion for us to begin to see where we are coming from and where we want to go.”

Yet again, the case took turn, however on August 1 when the SSS paraded six suspects for allegedly killing Oyerinde. Speaking at a briefing, the SSS spokeswoman, Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, gave the names of the suspects as: Mohammed Abdullahi, Raymond Origho, Chike

Ede, Saidu Yakubu, Sani Abubakar, and Hassan Bashir. At the briefing, the suspects confessed to committing the crimes. Following their confession, efforts to get Oshiomhole’s reaction were not successful as he was said to have travelled out of the state.

Akwa Ibom establishes HIV/ Aids control agency TONY ANICHEBE UYO

overnor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State will soon sign into law the bill establishing the State HIV/ AIDS Control Agency. The Deputy Governor, Nsima Ekere, who announced this at the annual general meeting and scientific conference of the state branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said the governor would not only sign the bill, which was recently passed by the state House of Assembly, into law but would adequately fund the agency to enable it meet its obligations. Ekere, who represented Akpabio at the event, called for concerted efforts in the fight against HIV/ AIDS particularly in the mother-to-child transmission of the pandemic. He urged the NMA to monitor developments in the renewed international research for a cure for HIV/AIDS to ensure that Akwa Ibom people would be among the first to ben-

efit from a potential cure. The deputy governor said the government had put together strong policies and programmes to strengthen the healthcare sector, including the free medical treatment for pregnant women, children below the age of five and the aged as well as the massive rehabilitation of health institutions across the state in addition to the building of five new cottage hospitals. He said the government had also intervened in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital by providing facilities including a paediatric ward and provided all medical doctors within its employ vehicles to enhance their mobility in addition to improved remuneration and training opportunities for them abroad. Ekere promised that the government would equip and staff the 20th Anniversary Specialist Hospital with the best equipment and personnel to make it the best in the country and stop medical tourism of Nigerians abroad.

NDDC will support developmentdriven organisations - Oboh SAM OLUWALANA

he Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, said it would continue to identify with groups and organisations with developmentdriven aspirations and missions. The NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christian Oboh, disclosed this when officials of the Port Harcourt Club led by its President, Golden Tamuno, visited him at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt yesterday. Acknowledging the role of the club in the development of the region, he said, “I want to commend the Port Harcourt Club for its pioneering efforts in sports development”.

Oboh disclosed that the commission’s passion for sports was informed by the role it played in nation building, pointing out that the Port Harcourt Club had been exceptionally consistent in realising this dream, particularly for the Niger Delta and Nigeria in general. The MD regretted that Nigeria was gradually losing its position in sports, promising that the NDDC would collaborate with Port Harcourt Club to assist in reversing the trend. He said: “We are sad that Nigeria has lost its position among sporting nations. We will encourage the Port Harcourt Club to intensify efforts as a training ground for future champions in the Niger Delta Region.”

North

Friday, August 3, 2012

Nigeria may disintegrate if… –Tofa AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

residential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the aborted third republic and founding member of the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP), Alhaji Bashir Tofa, yesterday expressed fear of possible disintegration of the Nigerian nation on account of the spate of bloody conflicts in parts of the north and other security issues threatening its corporate existence. Alhaji Tofa, who was

ANPP’s elders’ committee chairman, lamented the state of insecurity in the country, especially the bloody gun and bomb attacks in parts of the country, which to him constitute serious threat to the country’s progress and the peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian people. He spoke with National Mirror in Kano, during which he highlighted some of the factors that have contributed in promoting conflict in the country to include poverty, growing unemployment, especially among the nation’s graduates, adding that they all joined to create an atmo-

sphere of uncertainty. The elder statesman also berated the government, traditional, religious and political leaders for what he described as their insensitivity to the security challenges confronting the nation. In the opinion of Tofa, these categories of leaders have not done enough to help this country out of its present predicament. In his words: “I have my fear that what is happening in the country now may be a prelude to the country’s disintegration, we have fought a war in this country in the late 60s when the South-East wanted to se-

cede because they felt they were not being justly treated, there was resentment in the region, but today the resentment is all over the country, everybody is angry about the way things are going, especially the way government is being run.” “Government is not functioning properly, opportunities are not there to enhance commercial and business activities; and we keep going backward. So the fear of disintegration of the country is high and I entertain that fear too that if we don’t do something quickly and positively, this country may end up splitting into different components.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

The northern leader also noted with concern that the lack of commitment by stakeholders and government is systematically paving way for the country to break up. “So, what is happening is enough to bring about fear that if we do not do something now, and quickly too, the situation might lead to the disintegration of the country and that will be very serious. “This country cannot afford to separate, we are so intertwined now with one another and we have people who are either born or have lived outside their ancestral homes for decades.”

Ilorin varsity releases final year students’ results WOLE ADEDEJI ILORIN

he University of Ilorin has released the results of 5,383 students cleared for graduation as released by the Senate of the Institution while convocation is fixed for October this year. The University Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, who made this known yesterday in a statement said the result was that of the 2011/2012 degree and diploma examinations held between June and July this year. Akogun said the results, were ratified by the Senate at its 27th meeting held last Tuesday with a breakdown of 4,686 from the first degree cadre, 679 from the Institute of Education and 18 others for the Diploma programme. Thirty-six of the 4,686 first degree graduands came out in first class, 871 got second Class upper division, 2,297 made second class lower division, 1,120 came out with third class division while 287 got ordinary passes, he added. The Faculty of Science has 11 first class materials having the highest number of high-flying graduands, Faculties of Agriculture and Business and Social Science produced seven first class graduands each. Six in the Faculty of Communication and Information Science while the Faculties of Education and Engineering produced two first class graduands each. Only one person from the Faculty of Arts came out with first class.

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmed Maccido; Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi and representative of the Senate President, Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, at the Joint Committee on Appropriation and Finance Interactive Session in Abuja, yesterday.

Kano to spend N1.622bn on three projects AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO

greement for the execution of three separate projects worth N1.662bn was signed yesterday by the Kano State government. The government said the projects, when concluded, will create fresh employment opportunities for the unemployed in the state, youths particularly. The state’s Works, Hous-

ing and Transport Commissioner, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf while signing the contracts in Kano with the representatives of the separate contracting firms, warned that the state government will not tolerate any shoddy job. The projects, according to the commissioner, include the construction of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Madobi, which would be executed at a cost of N900.8 million;

the Sports Academy, N387.3 million and Informatics Institute, Kura at a cost of N374.4 million, adding that the projects are geared towards improving the quality of lives of the people of the state by creating job opportunities for the teeming youths. He said the three projects, the contracts of which have been signed are part of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s policy on youths development and

the provision of various infrastructure spread across the state. Yusuf recalled that a fortnight ago, the Kwankwaso administration signed agreement with a construction firm for three other major projects in the state, including the construction of two major flyovers. He added that the state government gave the contractors 10 months within which to complete the contract, pointing out that the

Service delivery: Gaidam boosts LGAs with N5.1bn INUSA NDAHI DAMATURU

n keeping with his commitment to ensuring improved service delivery at the grassroots level and making life more meaningful for people in rural areas, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state has given approval for the 17 Local Govern-

ment Councils to execute special projects worth N5.1 billion. In a press statement issued to National Mirror through his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, said each of the councils will spend N300 million to provide such services as boreholes, wells and hand pumps;

provision of drugs, consumables and construction of additional clinics; construction and rehabilitation of primary school classrooms; construction of culverts and improvement of environmental sanitation and the repair of mass transit buses to improve local transportation amongst several others.

Bego added that the Governor has urged all the Local Government Chairmen to ensure that all projects/services designated for individual communities are executed according to their specifications. A special committee, he said, will also undertake visits to the local government areas to monitor implementation of the

Plateau commences workers’ verification exercise JAMES ABRAHAM JOS

lateau State government has commenced a biometric verification exercise for all its civil servants. The government said the exercise has become necessary to enable it determine the actual number of civil servants on its payroll. Leader of the Committee set up by the government to carry out the exercise, Hon. Ayuba Pam, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor David Jang on Media and Publicity, at the commencement of the verification exercise at the Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, yesterday, where over 1, 000 staff of the institution were expected to be screened, said the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt any individual or group of persons. His words: “This verification exercise is not to witch-hunt, but is to authenticate the number of civil servants we have in the state. You are aware of competing needs of government in terms of resources and you are aware that the governor has made it clear often times, the huge sums of money spent on monthly bills amounting to over N1.7bn, this is a disturbing situation to government, compared to the needs of the state.”

deadline is officially 18 months, which he noted would to a large extent reduce traffic congestion in the metropolitan city of Kano. “The three projects, the contracts have just been signed are part of the development of 21 institutes that were established by the governor so far. We have, in collaboration with the relevant ministries, awarded contracts for the execution of such projects, 15 of which have been executed.”

Grassroots Service Delivery initiative. In addition, the Governor has also approved the payment of N307, 241, 268.04 for the payment of pension and gratuities to 324 retired and deceased workers at the local government level. This payment according to Bego covers the period of July 2011 to date.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Maina: Raising the bar for women development

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Politics

APGA: Umeh’s legal battles continue

Ogoni declares self-govt, vows not to retreat FELIX NWANERI

ild jubilations yesterday rocked Ogoni land, Rivers State, following the Ogoni People’s declaration of political autonomy which the people said will finally end internal colonialism. In a live broadcast on a newly established radio station: Voice of Ogoni, the President/spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Dr. Goodluck Diigbo vowed that “by the dec-

laration, the Ogoni people are determined to enforce the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples, without fear or retreat.” His words: “Acting on the General Assembly mandate on the questions relating to the political autonomy of Ogoni in Southern Nigeria, and in the spirit of the General Assembly motion DPA/001/2012, and its resolutions DPA/002 and DPA/003/2012 adopted and approved on July 31, 2012; in accordance with the wishes of the Ogoni people

contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights of August 26, 1990 as revised on August 26, 1991; expressing the collective will of the good people of Ogoni in the referendum of 2010 and the second referendum of 2011… I, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, hereby make this historic statement, to announce the proclamation of this General Assembly Declaration of Political Autonomy for the self-determination or self-government of the Ogoni people within Nigeria, today, the 2nd day of August, 2012. So declared, and so be it; for the advance-

ment of liberty in freedom and the preservation of the ancestral heritage of the Ogoni people.” It will be recalled that the people of the area had in 1990, presented the Ogoni Bill of Rights to the Federal Government, in which the Ogoni demanded among other indigenous rights, political autonomy to participate in the nation as a distinct and separate indigenous unit. Diigbo, who affirmed that self-government within Nigeria will secure for the Ogoni people, their in-

digenous rights and enable them to meet their needs and interests, added that the autonomy became urgent in recognition of the need to arrive at a consensus to collectively review the disputed UNEP Ogoniland Oil Assessment report, as any dialogue must be with the genuinely elected representatives of the people. He underscored the reason for the urgency of self-government for Ogoni, saying: “Concerned that in the absence of a responsive government that the indigenous people of Ogoni will continue to suffer from historic injustices. “In order to make indigenous rights practicable in Ogoni, we have through a very transparent electoral college process, beginning with community by community elections, set up 272 village councils, while the village councils in turn elected representatives for 33 district councils and the district representatives went on to elect representatives to serve at the centre

as custodians of customs and traditions, otherwise called lawmakers. “The lawmakers in turn elected the executive arm of the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) with checks and balances inbuilt to ensure corruption-free, effective, efficient and answerable system of grassroots self-government instead of the old, corrupt and mismanaged local government system endured by the Ogoni for decades. Diigbo announced that a Transitional Committee has already been set up to facilitate dialogue to ensure peaceful transition, within 30 days, while consultation with the national government and international community begins without delay. He admonished the Ogonis to remain law-abiding, saying “we are acting with legitimacy to reclaim all of our rights; let no one test the collective will of the Ogoni people, because we will not surrender our indigenous rights anymore.”

Aregbesola: PDP decries imposition of Lagosians on Osun OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Ethics, Mrs. Sarah Jubril; Special Adviser to Peoples Democratic Party, National Chairman, Prof. Onyeka Onyeka; National Chairman, National Conscience Party, Alh. Tanko Yunusa and Deputy Imam, Islamic Youth League Central Mosque, Ustaz Abduljalil Kilani, during the National Peace Summit in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

Corruption: Kalu blasts Jonathan, Clark AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, POLITICS

ormer Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday declared President Goodluck Jonathan’s government as the most corrupt administration in the history of Nigeria. “There is no government that has been this tainted by corruption in the history of the country,” Kalu stated while reacting to a statement credited to Chief Edwin Clark that he is unfit to become Nigeria’s president because he was corrupt. He noted that the major focus of the present gov-

ernment was not on governance but politics. Kalu advised President Jonathan and Clark to focus on how to address the numerous challenges facing the country. “Top on the list is the twin issues of security and corruption. So instead of wasting their energy on fighting Kalu, the attack dogs of the government should focus on issues of development. They will only try but there will be no stopping Kalu in 2015 if it is the wish of God and Nigerians that he should play a critical role in reshaping the country,” he said. Kalu said that in recent

pat, Clark has turned into attacking dog being used against him. “This is the same Chief Clark who has praised me to high heavens in the recent past, eulogizing me with all sorts of adjectives. But because of his age I will not join issues with him. Let his conscience be his judge if indeed his position before the interview tallies with what he said on television on Wednesday,” he said. The former governor said if at all anyone was going to talk about corruption, it shouldn’t be Clark, saying his tenure as the Minister of Information

in the First Republic was tainted with cases of abuse of office. He said of Clark: “He is a leech who is living off the government and does not care how those who fund him get their money. The most important thing for him is to ensure that his ego and pocket are fed fat.” The former governor who spoke in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Emeka Obasi, said that instead of concentrating on governance, the government was focusing on fighting imaginary enemies that are seen as capable of the ambition of Jonathan for a four-year term in 2015.

he Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on traditional rulers and founding fathers of the state to caution the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola against turning the state to an annex of Lagos State. The PDP, speaking through its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, said: “There is nothing bad in copying Governor Babatunde Fashola’s style of governance in as much as it is for the good people of Osun State but where Governor Aregbesola appears not to see quality men and women in Osun State and as such formed the habit of recruiting his Lagos-based boys to key positions in the state is

alarming. Lamenting that the appointment of Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi from Lagos as a consultant to midwife the creation of new local government areas in Osun State is very embarrassing, the PDP asked: “What is the sense in asking someone who does not know Osun State to come and create local governments in the state?” The party also bemoaned the plan by Aregbesola to appoint Justice Olubunmi Oyewole from Lagos State judiciary as the next Chief Judge of the state, saying that “the way Governor Aregbesola is running the affairs of Osun State has subjected the people of the state to ridicule and embarrassment, thereby creating the impression that Osun people are inferior to Lagosbased indigenes.”

Politics

Friday, August 3, 2012

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Maina: Raising the bar for women development AYO ESAN writes on efforts by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to ensure the realisation of constitutional guarantees for gender equity and equality.

WOMEN’S NUMERICAL STRENGTH HAS NOT IMPACTED POSITIVELY ON THE POLITICAL

LIFE AND DECISION-

he Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Zainab Maina, recently began her ministry’s advocacy on women/child development with a visit to Lagos. While in Lagos, she not only visited the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who also doubles as the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, where she not only rolled out problems bedevilling the womenfolk as well as listed the programmes of the government to ensure gender balance but also had an interactive session with women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities and civil society organisations. Maina noted that while the constitution guarantees gender equity and equality, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)s recognise the centrality of gender equality issues to the attainment of all the other seven MDGs and targets. She said that as at now, women occupy just about 11 per cent in the parliament and 33 per cent of ministerial positions, saying the progressive agitation for 35 per cent affirmative action in favour of women to bridge the gender gaps in both elective and appointive posts at all levels by 2015 is the ultimate task before us all. According to her, out of 109 Senate members there are only seven women and out of 360 members of the House of Representatives, only 23 are women. “Out of 41 cabinet ministers only 13 are women; out of 1,002 state House of Assembly members nationwide only 54 are women; of the 774 Local Government chairmen less than 100 are women,” she noted, adding that, this imbalance calls for sober reflection and adoption of concrete strategies for social inclusion of women and other vulnerable groups in governance. She further said: “To address this imbalance, it is important to state that the work of enhancing women, children and the status of people living with disabilities is not the responsibility of my ministry alone. We all have collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at all levels.” The minister stated that various interrelated socio-economic factors have led to the poor economic status of a large segment of Nigerian women, such that 70 per cent of people living below the poverty line are women. To address this, the ministry, in collaboration with other partners put in place mechanisms to boost entrepreneurial activities among women through the provisions of micro-credit facilities such as Women Fund for Women Economic Empowerment (WOFEE) and Business and Development Fund for Women (BUDFOW). Calling for increased women participation in politics and decision-making, Maina lamented that though politics is said to be a game of numbers, yet women’s numerical strength has not impacted positively on the political life and decision-

MAKING STRUCTURES OF THE NATION, DUE TO UNFAVOURABLE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERISED BY VIOLENCE

Maina

making structures of the nation, due to unfavourable political environment characterised by violence. She said the imbalance in political representation is so grave and urged the civil society groups to join her ministry in the advocacy for increased participation of women in decision-making as well as come up with practical strategies/suggestions for the actualisation of 35 per cent women’s representation in both elective and appointive posts in the states and Nigeria in general. Maina also called for improve maternal and child health, saying Nigerian women suffer preventable premature loss of life as a result of inadequate health facilities, non-incentives for health personnel, ignorance and cultural taboos. “Pregnancy is not a disease, yet thousands of women die in the course of pregnancy and childbirth. Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates with about 545 per 100,000 live births. By im-

Pastor Bassey James, Chancellor, Akpabio Centre for Leadership Development in this interview with FELIX NWANERI, speaks on Apkabiosm, a concept that is being developed to appreciate Governor Godswill Akpabio for his landmarks in Akwa Ibom State. What is Akpabiosm all about? Akpabiosm has a lot of meanings; it depends on how you look at the achievements of Governor Godswill Akpabio. We can take, for instance, the free and compulsory education that the governor has offered the people of the state. It is more like Awoism. It came towards the end of the first term, but we developed it in 2009. We brought it to limelight since then and we have been moving on. It is a lasting legacy that we are developing for our governor to appreciate his good works. Akpabiosm, by the grace of God, will spread across the states, to the

plication every 18 minutes, a woman dies from pregnancy related complications in Nigeria. It is unacceptable for women to keep dying while giving life,” she said, On girl-child education, the minister said though illiteracy is catastrophic for any child, but it is especially devastating for girls, because it makes them more vulnerable to poverty, ignorance, maternal mortality, hunger, violence, abuse, exploitation, trafficking, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. She condemned the spate of violence against women and the girl-child, saying the rate of physical, psychological and emotional violence against women in Nigeria is high. “In our societies today, six out of every 10 women have, at some point in their lives, been abused, battered, mutilated or suffer one form of violence or the other. This has often permanently damaged the women concerned or sent them to their untimely deaths,” she said. Maina has advocated for the implementation and review of the National Gender Policy. She disclosed that the Federal Executive Council approved a National Gender policy for Nigeria in 2006 and that year 2011 marks the end of the five year cycle

of the policy document and the first three years of the five-year implementation period of the Strategic Implementation Framework. She said the overall goal of the policy was to promote the welfare and rights of Nigerian women and children in all aspects of life. While pointing out that tremendous progress has been made in various forms since its approval, she noted that lots of vacuum still exist, hence her call for a review of the policy so as to incorporate new issues and challenges as well as needs and aspirations. The minister stated that her ministry deems it necessary to solicit for Lagos State support and co-operation to the team of experts that will be visiting the state to gather data in this regard. While disclosing that Lagos State is one of 24 states in the country that have passed the Child Rights’ Law, Maina expressed displeasure in its implementation and enforcement. According to her, “Lagos State is one of the 24 states in the federation that have passed the Child Rights’ Law, but its implementation and enforcement has been very slow. This law, if well implemented, will be of immense benefit to the state and ensure the survival, protection, well-being and development of our children into well adjusted individuals contributing meaningfully to nationhood. “We believe that the life sentence penalty as contained in the Law for Child Rapists will go a long way in reducing the high rate of child and teenage rape cases in Nigeria,” she added. In her response, Orelope-Adefulire said Lagos State, under the leadership of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has been giving women the necessary support in politics and decision-making. She said the incumbent chief judge of the state is a woman just like her predecessor, while women have reasonable number in the cabinet as well as in the state Assembly. She also said that there is a woman senator representing the state while about eight other women are serving in the House of Representatives.

‘Why we’re entrenching nation and the entire world. You talked about Awoism and Akpabiosm. What is the correlation between the two? The correlation is simple. An average Yoruba person looks at Awolowo as someone sent to add value to his or her life. Awolowo developed the Yoruba people to the height they have achieved in the national firmament today. Awolowo to the Yoruba person is a father of development, a man sent by God to add value. The importance of Awolowo in Nigeria’s political development cannot be ignored. There is no way you will discuss Nigeria without discussing late Awolowo’s contribution to the West and the entire nation. We have to develop this Akpabiosm in line with what is happening the in the West and the East. Akpabio can be compared to any leader in the world. You talk about Awoism and Zikism. These were great men who developed

their own ideologies. In the entire SouthSouth and to Akwa-Ibom people, Akpabio has been able to develop his own ideology. How do you intend to institutionalise Akpabiosm, especially by the time he leaves office? We are doing that as you can feel the presence of Akpabiosm everywhere you go. We are building a very strong ideology even in the South-West. You may be surprised to know that the people who are Akpabio ambassadors are no just workers in the state. We have people who believe in what the governor is doing in the North, East, SouthSouth and South-West. Everybody is trying to key into what our governor is doing. He is transforming and repositioning the state for greatness. We will sustain it and we are building it in the minds of the people through information and communication. We have the strong united Akpabists all over the state and the number is increasing

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Politics

Friday, August 3, 2012

DENNIS AGBO ENUGU

n Tuesday July 31, the Enugu State Chief Judge, Justice Innocent Umezulike, failed to vacate the interim order he gave on July 25, restraining the embattled National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, from convoking any local, state or national meeting of APGA. Justice Umezulike rather extended the order ex-parte till September 17, asking Umeh to “endure” because, according to him, “reflection of these cases is of course demanded; this makes it impossible to give magisterial ruling on the matter by the court as it would have wished. If you cannot develop the law, it would be wrong to destroy it. It is better to endure temporary hardships and serve the cause of justice. The interim order stays and this matter is adjourned to September 17, for continuation of hearing.” However, Umeh through his counsel, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), immediately appealed the ruling. Umeh in his appeal said he is dissatisfied with Justice Umezulike’s ruling, especially on the extension of the order ex-parte on him to over 48 days instead of the constitutional seven days or maximum of 14 days. According to Umeh, Justice Umezulike erred in law when as a trial judge he acted without jurisdiction when suo muto he extended the order ex-parte made on July 25 to September 27, a clear 48 days which is contrary to provisions of the law. He went ahead to site Umezulike’s particulars of error referring to order 39 rule 3(3) and 4 of high court rules of Enugu State 2006, which states that “An order ex parte shall abate after seven days and where it is to be extended on the application of a party, shall not be for a period exceeding seven days from the day the extension is granted.” The APGA National Chairman therefore argued that Justice Umezulike erred in law and thereby occasioned a substantial miscarriage of justice in extending the tenure/duration of the order ex-parte beyond constitutional provision. Particulars of Umezulike’s error that Umeh pointed out is that there was no

APGA: Umeh’s legal battles continue

Umeh

Obi

THE PLOT TO STOP

UMEH WAS HATCHED BY

OBI AND CHIME AND JUST BEFORE THE WEEK RAN OUT, JUSTICE UMEZULIKE PRONOUNCED IT IN HIS COURT application made by any of the parties, including the plaintiff/respondent seeking for extension of the order and so the extension was granted by the trial judge suo motu. Umeh therefore sought reliefs from the Court of Appeal to set aside the extension order and in place thereof an order vacating/discharging the order ex parte made on July 25. Expectedly, members of APGA have alleged that there is a conspiracy against the embattled national chairman by both Governors Peter Obi of Anambra State and Sullivan Chime of Enugu State. The party members are equally suspi-

cious that President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may be behind the present crisis in APGA. They alleged that Governor Obi is being used by some people outside the party to make sure that APGA does not field a presidential candidate in the 2015 election against the wish of Umeh and some other party members who want to use APGA as a platform to actualise the Igbo presidency project. APGA members in Enugu State told to National Mirror that their suspicion arose from Justice Umezulike’s “miscarriage of justice.”

Akpabiosm in Nigeria’ by the day – professors, doctors, people that believe in him. We are having about 26,000 people already as ambassadors. Before now, there have been so much negative stories about Akwa Ibom, is this the way of telling a new story? Akwa Ibom has never been in the bad news. The enemies of Akwa Ibom State never believed that any good thing can come out of the state. All along from 1999 and as we are going to 2015, the state has been peaceful. In terms of peace and development, there is no place that can be compared to Akwa Ibom State. People will always say something bad. I know the governor will not throw money on the road. There are people who will not be happy to see a completed airport, the power plant and free education. The aged people and nursing mother are benefitting from the state now. From 2007, Akwa Ibom has been wonderful. Akpabiosm is not about poli-

Enugu State chairman of the party, Mr. Okechukwu Nkolagu, said it has become crystal clear that Obi is hobnobbing with Chime as appointed by the PDP to destroy the Igbo dominated political party so that the Anambra governor could have a reason to dump APGA for the PDP in order to realise his rumoured ambition of becoming the running mate to a PDP presidential candidate in 2015. The APGA members said they became apprehensive, last weekend, when after the end of the South East Governors’ meeting, Obi stayed back when other governors left only for him to go back to Governor Chime’s office and stayed longer than necessary. “That was when the plot to stop Umeh was hatched by Obi and Chime and just before the week ran out Justice Umezulike pronounced it in his court.” They also said that they have now realised where Chime was coming from when the Enugu governor made pronouncements that APGA as a political party would go into extinction by 2014. They said that Chime’s thinking was a manifestation of confident discussions with Obi which he let out of the bag without knowing he had done so. “So, we are not surprised by the Umezulike obnoxious restrain, which of course is bound to be vacated. But Umezulike should beware of falling into the dongeon pits of his mates like the infamous dismissed justices,” Nkolagu said. Nkolagu recalled that during the 2011 general election, Chime and his co- travellers had sought for the ticket of APGA when the opposition within PDP almost cut them short of picking the PDP nominations but were rejected by APGA which never saw them as true politicians but liabilities. He, therefore, wished Chime and Obi well “in their joint unwholesome ambitions against the generality of Ndigbo,” recalling that Obi, after buying the APGA governorship ticket with N5 million naira and thereafter threw away Chekwas Okorie with ignominy, has now felt that he was through with Victor Umeh and could now do away with him and finally decimate APGA as if he bought the party with the N5 million nomination fee in 2003. Yoruba sustained Awoism, the way the Igbo sustained Zikism, the way Nkrumaism was sustained for Kwame Nkruma after his death. We will sustain it the way Indians sustained Ghandism. Once you build an ideology in the minds of the people it stays forever. When you link it to an achiever, that itself is self-sustaining. We are talking to the people. Last year, we brought in Prof. Jerry Gana. He lectured on Akpabiosm. We will sustain it through the media and lectures.

tics, but about good governance. Today, you don’t see an ‘Ekaette’ and ‘Okon’ in the streets of Lagos. We are now importing house-helps form other parts of Nigeria. You harp so much on education, what is it the governor has done differently in this regard? Governor Akpabio has given free and compulsory education. It is only in Akwa Ibom that you will see a primary and secondary school look like a university. He has completely transformed the sector. It is not about politics. Those doing house-help jobs are running home because there is free education. The schools are now filling up. In the state now you have non-indigenes operating and doing business. In the area of security, Akwa Ibom is one of the most secured places in the country. We have more foreigners coming to Akwa Ibom today. Our governor is building the biggest seaport in Africa. Akwa Ibom is busy; Akwa-Ibom is

James

working. How do you sustain Akpabiosm after 2015? We will sustain Akpabiosm the way the

Who funds Akpabiosm? I don’t always like to answer that question because some will say it is the governor. I tell people that it is just like when you go to church you believe that God will bless you. I am building Akpabiosm because I know that God has touched our governor us and we must bless him. So, the issue of funding does not arise. I can tell you that Akpabiosm is not funded by anybody than my business, which was incorporated in 1991. I have been in business all my life. If any of the Akpabist ambassadors asks you for money please call us. We don’t discuss money or funding.

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

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Friday, August 3, 2012

76 oil well ruling: Cross River State’s right to grief ANDEM OFFIONG

hen on July 10, 2012, the Supreme Court closed Case N0 SC.250/009, which borders on the ownership of the 76 oil wells long in contention between the sister states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, and handed the wells to the former, it opened the gate for controversy and bitterness that might add to Nigeria’s growing security woes, if not properly handled. Since that judgment, what began like the loser’s legitimate right to grief has been distorted and twisted and turned into the victor’s provocative dance of triumph. It has taken a dark and sinister life of its own, transforming from outright namecalling to tasteless mockery and finally, grand advertorials with taunting titles as – ‘How Cross River State Went to Court and Lost’. A close look at it could easily show that what the Akwa Ibom State government actually had in mind could not have been different from the following title – How Cross River State Went to War with Akwa Ibom and Lost. Whew! Such incendiary! Is this really necessary under the prevailing social climate of the country? This advertorial and so many other inciting stories, opinions and paid announcements by the agents and sympathizers of the Akwa Ibom State government tend to show that there is a deliberate misreading of the nation’s social temperature on one hand and

a total lack of finesse and the social grace that reminds cultured people of the need to be magnanimous in victory. Evidently, such refinements appear to be outside the reach of the Akwa Ibom State Government, at least for now. It is not clear whether it is assumed that Nigerians are incapable of making value judgments on their own or something close to that. This perhaps explains why they anchor their vitriolic attacks against the person of the governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke on his public address to the people of the state after the court judgment. In that address, he sought to forestall any possibility of a breakdown of law and order with carefully worded lines like – “Today, I beseech you to maintain the peace once again. We shall not abandon our peace-loving nature simply because of this temporary setback to our march for justice and fairness.” Imoke’s speech was essentially couched to instill self-restraint in the people, drawing heavily from the state’s long history of pride, resourcefulness and peacefulness. As it turned out, this strategy worked very well as there was no report of any acts of resistance or protest against the judgment. This makes the argument by the opposing party that Imoke was inciting the people rather ridiculous and false. It is interesting to note that in the face of all the provocation and name-calling in the newspapers, Imoke has hoisted himself above the fray, maintaining a dignified silence and keeping the doors to meaningful

SINCE THAT JUDGMENT, WHAT BEGAN LIKE THE

LOSER’S LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO GRIEF HAS BEEN DISTORTED AND TWISTED AND TURNED INTO THE VICTOR’S

PROVOCATIVE DANCE OF TRIUMPH dialogue wide open. It is not surprising that he assumed this posture in view of his wealth of experience in government having been senator, special adviser, minister and governor at different times. It is obvious that to him and to anyone who has the power of discernment, an issue as touchy as the loss of oil wells takes more than a judicial pronouncement to resolve. Not surprising, in its Editorial of Tuesday July 17, 2012, The Guardian drew the same conclusion. The paper chided the Supreme Court for not paying serious attention to the sensitive issues and emotions surrounding the disputed oil wells and traced the origins of the dispute to the judgment of the International Court of Justice in 2002, which handed over the western part of the Bakassi Peninsular to

Cameroon. “In view of the peculiarity of the case, the Supreme Court should have played a more advisory and equitable role, instead of giving a straight legal verdict as it did. Above all, the interest of the nation should have been paramount to the case.” The Guardian pointed out that the court’s non-designation of Cross River State as a littoral state has grave security implications for Nigeria which had yet to be addressed. The paper also alluded to the political solution that was engineered by the Obasanjo administration which brought respite to the feuding states and urged President Goodluck Jonathan to wade in and table a political solution between the states, especially as both states belong to the same political family. The Guardian Editorial was a voice of reason. But will Nigeria heed it? It hardly needs any foresight to see that in a nascent democracy, it is not every dispute that lends itself to peaceful resolution in the court of law. This is even more so when it is remembered that Akwa Ibom State had also temporarily held the short end of the stick in the heated days of on-shore and off-shore oil dichotomy debacle. The same state has also been in dispute with Rivers and Abia states over oil wells before. All these make the noisy drums of triumphalism that the Akpabio administration has been sounding rather pre-mature, needless and unwise. To be continued Offiong wrote from Calabar

Namadi Sambo at 60: So loyal and humble, so focused YUSHAU A. SHUAIB

ice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo is a man of unique character and strong conviction. Yesterday he turned 60 year. In this spate of time, he has come a long way as an architect, businessman, commissioner, governor and presently the second most powerful person in the most populous country in Africa. I will admit I have never met him on one on one, but I started having a clearer profile of the VP since his days as the governor of Kaduna State (May 2007-May 2010). Working on a project on developmental journalism and economic development, with a special focus on the North, I met Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance in Namadi Sambo administration, and I discussed the project with him. Of course, Yero got his boss interested, and pronto, Governor Sambo directed his Principal Private Secretary, Mallam Zakari Aliyu, to provide all the necessary support for the success of the project. We got such support during the three years the governor was on the saddle in Kaduna State. The politics of his nomination as Vice President in 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan was a shocker to most political groups and factions that were engaged in supremacy battles to control the new administration after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. There were indeed pressures from various groups, including the so-called Obasanjo faction, IBB Boys, Governors’ Forum, Legislators

SAMBO WAS AMONG THE FIRST SET OF ARCHITECTS IN

BAUCHI STATE AFTER ITS CREATION IN 1976 camp, Danjuma team and other regional groupings. The pressures were so intense that it created a schism within the ruling PDP. Jonathan, in his wisdom, opted for a neutral and non-controversial candidate that was never in the contention. And that was how Sambo got the nomination. Observing Sambo from a distance, one could see him as a person of ‘excessive’ loyalty to his boss. His humility is unparalleled, even among members of the Federal Executive Council with whom he relates seamlessly with his ever-smiling trademark on his face. He has encountered and surmounted some challenges, especially during the 2011 general elections, where he was not only defeated in his constituency, but some groups and individuals also allegedly booed him. Surprisingly, despite his retinue of armed security guards, he never allowed anyone to use force to fight back in retaliation. While some saw his defeat at the home front as humiliating to his person as VP, Sambo adopted a fatalist approach, believing in the will of Almighty Allah. And just last Monday, three days to his August 2, 60th birthday anniversary, gunmen attacked his Zaria country house.

Like happened in the past when Sambo did not begrudge those that antagonized him but reestablished and sustained mutual relationship with their leaders, he has taken the current one in its stride. Characteristically, he accords opposition leaders their due respect and attends social gatherings where loyalists and adversaries do converge in the spirit of exceptional statesmanship. Unlike the known animosities that exist between some past presidents and their vice, or between governors and their deputies, President Jonathan should count himself lucky to have Sambo, a humble, loyal and unassuming man, as his Vice President. Even at dangerous times when fifth columnists and political sycophants go all out to throw a wedge between him and his boss, the situations are usually maturely controlled before damages could be done. Born on the 2nd day of August 1952 in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sambo had his early education at Baptist Primary School, Kaduna in 1959 before moving to Kobi Primary School in Bauchi, where he finished. He later attended Government Secondary School, Zaria now Alhuda-Huda College, between 1967 and 1971. He gained admission to study architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he graduated with Bachelor of Science Degree in 1976 and Masters Degree also in architecture in 1978. Sambo was among the first set of architects in Bauchi State after its creation in 1976, where he was involved in the design of various offices and staff housing schemes to accommodate the influx of new govern-

ment officials. He was the architect responsible for the upgrade of the Yankari Games Reserve/ Holiday Resort during the same period. He is also remembered for the design of the master plans for Bauchi Township and environs. Between 1986 and 1990, he was appointed commissioner to various ministries including Agriculture, Works, Transport and Housing in Kaduna State. He later left the government for private practice. His firm was involved in the design and development of the National Olympic Sports Complex and other infrastructural facilities at the Games Village, Abuja. As Vice President, Arc. Sambo chairs the National Boundary Commission (NBC), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and National Economic Council (NEC). He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria among others. This unassuming and loyal Vice President has shown some qualities that are disparaged by a few and emulated by many, especially those who have clear glimpses of his humility and simplicity of life. Shuaib, yashuaib@yahoo.com, wrote from Abuja Send your views by mail or sms to PMB 10001, Ikoyi, or our Email: mail@ nationalmirroronline.net mirrorlagos@ yahoo.com or 08164966858 (SMS only). The Editor reserves the right to edit and reject views or photographs. Pseudonyms may be used but must be clearly marked as such.

Editorial

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

All the Facts, All the Sides A PUBLICATION OF GLOBAL MEDIA MIRROR LTD BARRISTER JIMOH IBRAHIM, OFR  PUBLISHER

STEVE AYORINDE

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HEAD, GRAPHICS

The virtues of Ramadan

amadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days depending on the visual sighting of the crescent moon as recorded in the numerous biographical accounts in the Hadith. It is the Muslim month of fasting when the faithful refrains from dawn till sunset from drinking, eating and sexual relations. Chapter 2 verse 185 of the Holy Quran states that the month of Ramadan was when the Holy Book was revealed; a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance and criterion (of right and wrong). During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip; the eyes from looking at immoral and unlawful things, while the hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talks and obscene words; and the feet from going to sinful places. By so doing, every part of the body observes the fast. Fasting is not merely physical; but the total commitment of the body and soul to the spirit of the fast. As was narrated in Abu Huraira, Allah (pbuh) said: “When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of hell are closed and the devils are chained “(Sahih Bukhairi: - Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123). The Prophet said: “Whoever established prayers on the night of Qadr out

of sincere faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven, and whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Number 125). Allah has prescribed fasting and made it obligatory on all nations. He said: “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you, that you may become righteous” (Noble Quran verse 2:183). The reward for fasting is immense, as mentioned in the following Hadith: “Every action of the son of Adam is given manifold reward, each good deed receiving ten times its live, up to seven hundred times”. Allah the most high said; “Except for fasting, for it is for me and I will give recompense for it, he leaves off his desire and his food for me”. The smell of the mouth of the faithful undergoing fasting is better with Allah than the smell of musk (al-Bukhaaree). Fasting is a shield against hell fire. Based on the scriptures, “fasting is a shield with which a servant protects himself from hellfire “(Ahmas, Saheeh); and for a faithful that fasts for one day, Allah removes the hellfire seventy years further from his face. Fasting washes away various sins as mentioned in the Holy Quran in verse 2:196, 4:92, 5:89 and 58:3-4.

OURS IS A MULTIETHNIC NATION WITH RELIGIOUS

DIVIDES.

LET THE

FAITHFUL REFLECT PENETRATINGLY ON THE IMPERATIVES OF

RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE, AS WELL AS MUTUAL AND PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE Fasting in Ramadan is the act of ibadah; and the wisdom is beyond observing its obligatory nature. There are many benefits attached to fasting in the month of Ramadan. During the month, for instance, the faithful works on his conscience; since Satan is captured and cannot be there to instruct his followers. When the conscience is taken care of in this holy month, it strives to avoid evil. Ramadan is the month of the revival of the human soul, which is often lost in the race of life. The Holy Quran (Surat Ad-Dukhan) 44:3 says: “We sent it (the Holy Quran) down on a blessed night, night of majesty - the night of Qadr. To this extent, the faithful intensifies prayers and the reading of the Holy Quaran in the last ten days. The faithful also searches for

the night of majesty in the odd days of the third lapse of the month. Consequently, the holy month of Ramadan deserves being accorded the solemnity the great religious event demands. It is, however, saddening that even in the holy month of Ramadan; and despite the admonitions and promises of the Ramadan fast in the Holy Scriptures, the nation is yet to witness any relief from the relentless campaign of violence by terrorists, especially in the northern part of the country. Reports early in the week indicated that gunmen and suicide bombers attacked Vice President Namadi Sambo’s Zaria residence in Kaduna State; as well as other targets in Sokoto and Yobe states, leading to the death of about five people. Ours is a multi-ethnic nation with religious divides. Let the faithful reflect penetratingly on the imperatives of religious tolerance, as well as mutual and peaceful co-existence. Let the aggrieved lay down arms and embrace dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation. For its part, the governing elite should draw lessons from the Holy Scriptures and pay less lip service to the virtues of Ramadan. A leadership so incorrigibly enmeshed in brazen corrupt practices, bribery, misappropriation and outright looting of public coffers, electoral frauds, etc.; that pays scant attention to the security and welfare of the citizenry, is a grave misfortune to humanity.

ON THIS DAY August 3, 2010 Widespread rioting erupted in Karachi, Pakistan, after the assassination of a local politician, leaving at least 85 people dead and at least 17 billion Pakistani rupees (US$200 million) in damage. The riots started after the assassination of MP Raza Haider, a member of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (political party), on the night of August 2, 2010, in Karachi, Pakistan. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is a political rival of the Pashtuns who migrated to the city from northwest Pakistan.

August 3, 2005 The President of Mauritania, Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya, was overthrown in a military coup while attending the funeral of King Fahd in Saudi Arabia. Maaouya Ould Sid’Ahmed Taya (born 1941), was Prime Minister of Mauritania from 1981 to 1984 and president from 1984 to 2005. He guided Mauritania from military rule to democracy, and took a pro-Western stance in foreign affairs; but was ousted by a military coup in 2005 while in Saudi Arabia on a funeral trip.

August 3, 1936 A fire wiped out Kursha-2 in the Meshchera Lowlands, Ryazan Oblast, Russia, killing 1,200 and leaving only 20 survivors. Kursha-2 was an industrial community in Central Meshchyora, Ryazan Oblast. It was built soon after Russia’s October Revolution for the exploitation of the local forests, and was annihilated by a firestorm on August 3, 1936. The firestorm started near Charus, to the south of Kursha-2 and extended to the north, and then grew in intensity to become a fierce conflagration.

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Ramadan 15, 1433AH Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Call to Worship

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, the servant of the Messenger of All, the prophet said: “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” RELATED BY BUKHARI AND MUSLIM

Bukhari Vol. 9 : No. 592 Narrated Abu Huraira (Radi-Allahu ‘anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Sallam) said, “Allah said, ‘I have prepared for My righteous slaves (such excellent things) as no eye has ever seen, nor an ear has ever heard nor a human heart can ever think of.’ “

Masjid-al-Sultan

Masjid-al-Sultan T

Every Friday with

Khalifatul

Ahmadiyya Ramadan, worship and righteous deeds

lessings of Ramadan are attained by understanding the reality of fasting and by fully benefitting from it. Doubtlessly, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said that in this month the doors of Paradise are opened, the doors of Hell are shut and Satan is restricted in fetters. However, are these doors opened for everyone and is Satan

Ramadan Bonanza 37

shackled for everyone and indeed are the doors of Hell shut down for everyone? Certainly, this is not for everyone, rather it is the believers who are addressed here. One does not become the recipient of Paradise by merely keeping fast and going through Ramadan. It is essential to fulfil its requisites and CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

he Islamic Centre (officially named Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam) is an architectural landmark in Malé, Maldives opened in November 1984 by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The Grand Friday Mosque located in the Centre, is named after Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam. The mosque is also the largest in the Maldives, admitting over 5000 people. The Centre also serves a conference hall where official meetings and ceremonies are held, an Islamic library and a number of offices. The centre also houses the Ministry of Islamic-Affairs from 11 November 2008 onwards which replaced the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs which was established by the for mer president HE Mr.

Misers are hell-boundCleric

Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom. Further more, The Islamic Centre acts as a major tourist attraction of Malé, because of its location near the main jetty of Malé and due to the beautiful architecture of the mosque. The magnificent golden dome of the mosque is also evident on the skyline of Malé. The shining golden dome of the mosque is a standout as are also the interior walls decorated with beautiful woodcarvings and Arabic calligraphy. The Center also houses a library and a conference hall.The most famous architectural landmark of Male’ is the threestorey Islamic Centre, opened in November 1984.The Center’s Grand Friday Mosque, Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu-al-A’z’am, is the biggest in the Maldives, accommodating more than 5,000 worshippers.

Parents and children’s upbringing 20

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Ramadan 15, 1433AH Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Misers are hell-bound- Cleric SEKINAH L AWAL

university Don and Cleric, Ustaz Abdul-Hakeem Mobolaji of the Economics Department, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, has called on rich Nigerians, especially Muslims, to spend their wealth to alleviate poverty among the citizenry by obeying the institution of Zakat because those who are miserly are hell-bound. In a telephone interview with National Mirror, Ustaz Mobolaji advised them to remember Allah’s injunction in Quran 3:180 and other related verses. “Let not those who are miserly with what God has given them of His bounty think that this is good for them. Rather, it is bad for them. That which they withhold shall be hung around their necks on the Day of Arising.” [Al-Quran 3:180] Quoting copiously from the glorious Quran where Allah (the Glorified and the Exalted) strongly warned those who are negligent in the fulfillment of these duties, he said; “Those who hoard up treasures of gold and silver and spend them not in the way of Allah; give them the news of a painful punishment, on the Day when that (wealth) will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their forehead, their sides, and their backs, (and it will be said to them:) ‘This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.’” [Al-Quran 9:3435] Also speaking on this issue, the Executive Director of Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Imam Abdullahi Shuaib condemned the level of depravity, dis-

eases, ignorance and abject poverty in Nigeria. “The social consequences arising from this deplorable situation are that peaceful co-existence, harmony and social development will be elusive in the midst of abundant human and natural resources. He also reiterated the importance of the institution of Zakat as a potent panacea to poverty reduction in the immediate situation and its elimination in the long run. “With the sup-

port of government, Zakat proceeds can be used to enhance the living standard of the people as well as a means for wealth redistribution so as to achieve the needed socio-economic balance in the society.” The Foundation usually gives out millions worth of Zakat to several beneficiaries across the country. According to the Executive Director of the Foundation, some of the Zakat been given are to support the economic empower-

ment of the less-privileged with the provision of Tricycle (i.e. Keke Marwa), Sewing machine, Sealing machine for Yogurt making, Computer systems, Grinding machines, Wheel chairs among others. Interested individuals and corporate bodies can pay into ZSF Access Bank Account: 0030378184 or GTBank: 0016101110. Other areas of disbursement include healthcare, education, accommodation, debt-relief and welfare supports.

Day 15

‘Rich Muslims should host Iftaar’

the example of people displaced recently as a result of the Maroko demolition and emphasised the need to put in place alternative abode for those affected before the exercise. “Good intention by government but they need to realise that the people need to relocate i.e. move in here temporarily, have a buy-in arrangement and help in stabilising the victims’ health status.” According to Dr. Olaore, utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social workers intervene at the point where people inter-

act with their environment as the principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human wellbeing and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession‘s focus on individual well being in a social context and the well being of society.”

MASHAUN

T Distribution of food items by Zakat and Zadaqat Foundation (ZSF) to the less-privileged at Idi Araba, Surulere Local Govt., Lagos

The Chairman, Zakat and Zadaqat Foundation (ZSF), Alhaji Sulaimon Olagunju (left) with some Imams at Ijebu-Ode Iftar soim recently.

‘Social work is holistic approach to wellbeing’ clarion call has gone to all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to understand the fact that social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of the people to enhance well being. Speaking at a media briefing on the role of social work profession, health and education in Nigeria recently, a Psychothera-

he Chief Imam of Vanguard Newspapers, Ustaz Haruna Razaq has lamented the negative attitudes of rich Muslims towards providing iftaar (fast-breaking meal) for Muslims in the Country and encouraged them to take it as a point of duty to earn the mercy of Allah during the fasting period. He stated this while addressing the topic; Virtous of Iftaar during Ramadan where mentioned that holy Prophet Muhammad said The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest. He encouraged rich Muslims to emulate individual and organisations and states like Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia who provide

money to some organizations in Muslim countries (such as Nigeria) to provide food for them during the fasting. He stated that the United State of American which has minority Muslims has since 1996, through United States Department of State been holding an annual Iftaar dinner for community leaders from US society and faith groups as well as foreign policy officials. He said that the Muslims who feed the poor are minimal when compared to those who don’t do this and stated that such Iftaar usually serves as an opportunity for the host of the iftar to invite Islamic scholars who can address the people on how to live a better life. Imam said Iftaar is one of the meritorious acts of the month of Ramadan and said it is good when it’s done in jama’a (congregation), with people gathering to break their fast together.

LATEEFAH IBRAHIM-ANI-

pist and Counsellor at the Spelman College, AtlantaGeorgia, Prof. Vickie Ogunlade explained that the core values of social wokers include service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. “We have ethics which helps us to know how to engage individuals, hear their stories, assess them and develop plan of actions to solve the problem at hand.

There are micro level facilities which involve individuals; the medium one and the macro plan which has to do with the society as a whole.” She called on government and corporate organizations to show more compassion and recognition for the profession as well as provide enabling policies that will assist social workers in hospitals, schools and related fields. Ogunlade stated that they look at issues from different

perspectives; health, social, economic, psychological, environmental and more. “We are holistic in approach; we look at the mind, body, do advocacy work and Nigeria as a nation is growing in terms of social work profession.” Also speaking, the Director of Student Support Services, Babcock University, Dr. Augustina Olaore reiterated the need for social workers to be included in all the caring components of all citizens. She gave

FELA 15 YEARS AFTER

His Legacy His Artistry His Ideology His Wives His Proteges

ire mp E From lakuta a to K e New to th Shrine a Afrik

Friday, August 3, 2012

Rasheed Gbadamosi on Felaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last hours >> A3 P.23

The problem problem between between The MKO and and Fela Fela MKO Kola Abiola Abiola >> A7 P.27 -- Kola Fela and the contentious HIV/AIDS toga

>> A11 P.31

EGYPT 80: A memorial band endures

>> A8 P.28

A2 22

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Dr. Sola Olorunyomi writes the opener for this special publication by National Mirror. You are bound to be surprised by the input of many of Fela’s old friends. Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi writes about Fela’s last concert and his dying minutes; Lemi Ghariokwu explores the inspiration behind several album sleeves he designed for Fela and Gbemi Olujobi encounters a revered Afrobeat Legend in the U.S., far away from home. Then, there are journalists who recollect the long and eventful trek to bury Fela …but then, there is more!

Fela: The iconoclast 15 years after SOLA OLORUNYOMI

uti, Fela Anikulapo (1938–1997), Nigerian musician and political activist, was born Fela Ransome-Kuti on October 15, 1938, in Abeokuta, Nigeria, to the Reverend Israel Oludotun RansomeKuti, a clergyman and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (nee Thomas), a woman’s activist. Fela (along with his mother) would later drop the Ransome from his name as a rejection of British colonialism and adopted the Yoruba middle name Anikulapo, which means “one who has death in his pocket”. Fela was the fourth of five children born into the Ransome-Kuti family, which belonged to the EgbaYoruba community. One of his older brothers, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, was a noted medical doctor and Nigerian minister of health. Another brother, Beko Ransome-Kuti, was a leading human rights activist. The Nobel Laureate for literature, Wole Soyinka, a cousin. Though he was deprived of interacting with the vital and deep-rooted Egba cultural tradition as a youth (his paternal family of clerics disparaged it), Fela would later reach back into this cultural antecedence much later in his musical and artistic career and rework substantially traditional, even cultic, Egba codes into his performance. His parents inspired in Kuti and his siblings a commitment to ending British colonial rule in Nigeria. His activist mother took him along to political rallies. These early exposures had a profound effect on his cultural and political attitude later in life, as Kuti was wont to constantly allude to the events. His outspoken radicalism owed much to his mother, who introduced Fela to pan-Africanist thinkers and politicians, including Kwame Nkrumah, the future president of independent Ghana. Kuti came of age in the late 1950s, a time when anti-colonial struggles in Africa and Asia were in their ascendancy; his parents’ dream of an independent Nigeria became a reality in 1960. By then, he was a music student at Trinity College, London. He had always played music at home given the fact that his parents and grandfather, Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti, were themselves accomplished musicians. At Trinity College, from which he graduated in1963, he studied trumpet, piano and voice and also began playing in bands in the London jazz scene. After forming his first band, Koola Lobitos and marrying his first wife, Remi Taylor (with whom he had three children: Yeni, Femi, Soladegbi), Fela returned to Nigeria. What would become Fela Kuti’s unique blend of pan-African music and politics evolved slowly over the following decade and he had many false starts. In the mid-1960s, Fela reformed a new iteration of Koola Lobitos, which included one of Lagos’s finest drummers, Tony Allen, whose percussive style embraced both Highlife and jazz and who would remain with Fela until 1979. Crucial also to Fela’s new musical direction was his increasing interest in African diaspora cultural forms and his exposure to emerging trends in radical black political thought. Sandra Smith, an African American girlfriend and a member of the Black Panther movement, lent him The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, a simple event that would spark his ideological orientation as a radical pan-Africanist. This political and cultural transformation was marked by his decision to change the name of his band from “Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Highlife Jazz Band” to “Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Nigeria 70”. The first flowering of the new rhythmic experiment emerged at the 1969 Los Angeles sessions,

keyboards, rattles, metal gong, sticks and the bass and tenor guitars, he had defined his rhythm section. The horn section was made up of a trumpet, alto, tenor (first and second), and baritone (first and second) saxophones. In the Afrobeat phase of his music, Fela experimented with diverse rhythmic styles. The bass line drum rhythm has been identified by the musician Steve Rhodes as Egbaesque, with its roots reminiscent of certain rhythms of the Oro cult. He fuses this with Egba chants such as “terekute” or “joro jara joro,” which are built on harmonies based on the pentatonic scale. By now, Fela’s music had evolved from aspects of the Highlife tradition, which was structured along European harmonic pattern; he made the Afrobeat form gravitate toward traditional modal scale. Once Afrobeat took a definable character, it created the basis for experimentation by American and European musicians. From quite distinct African musical traditions, major performers, including Salif Keita of Mali, Youssou N’dour of Senegal, Manu Dibango of Cameroon and Hugh Masakela of South African, were also inspired by Fela Kuti and Afrobeat while giving it their respective local flavours. Always more than just a musician, Fela’s political activism would earn him the enmity of the Nigerian authorities in the 1970s and 1980s. Increasingly it was Fela’s direct criticism of the corruption of the Nigerian state and the Lagos police authorities, as well as his flagrant use and promotion of marijuana that ensured near constant harassment. In 1977, he released Zombie—an explicit condemnation of Nigeria’s repressive military government. Its lyrics, “Zombie no go turn unless you tell am to turn/Zombie no go think unless you tell to think”, struck a chord with atomised young Nigerians. Shortly after the album’s release, one thousand soldiers attacked and burned Fela’s Lagos compound, the “Kalakuta Republic,” which he had declared to be independent of the Nigerian state. Many of the occupants were beaten and raped. Fela was badly beaten and his 78-year-old mother would die a few months later as a result of injuries she received after being thrown from a window during the attack. Fela continued to produce albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but his political activism abated somewhat, as his interest in Yoruba religion increased. He was casually stepping in and out of the everyday cyclicity of experience: listening and communing with ancestral voices, somnambulists, disembodied voices etc. By now his health was also fast deteriorating and when he died on August 2, 1997, his family informed the public that he had died of AIDS. That admission did much to publicise the prevalence of the epidemic in a country that rarely spoke openly about it. In the years after his death, a crop of younger Nigerian artists such as Kuti’s sons Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and Seun Kuti built on Kuti’s works and introduced new forms. Abroad, the Chicago Afrobeat Project (CAbP) and Antibalas, in the United States; Gudrun Holck, in Denmark; Dele Sosinmi’s Gbedu Resurrection, in Britain; Dele Ogungbe’s The African Connection and Tony Allen’s Afrobeat Revenge in France have all extended the frontiers of Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat form. (See www.nationalmirroronline.net/arts, culture and lifestyle for full text). Dr. Olorunyomi, a senior lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, is the author of Afrobeat! Fela and the Imagined Continent (2002). PHOTO: FEMI BANKOLE OSUNLA

which resulted in the album My Lady’s Frustration. It was however in the 1971 tracks Jeun K’oku and more determinedly with Why Blackman Dey Suffer (1971)—both massive hits throughout West Africa— that we get the definite shift to the structural pattern of contemporary Afrobeat. The instrumentation of his new ensemble—now called The Africa ’70—also reflected this transition that included in its percussive section, a trap-drum set of bass drum, snaredrum and cymbals, two tom-tom drums, then a three-membrane drum. Later in the Egypt ’80 Band, he added the gbedu, the “big conga drum”, basically a Baoule-type Attoumgblan, two-apiece interlocking membrane drums, and a second bass section that intensified the rhythm. Together with an amplified r h y t h m machine, two

Fela

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Friday, August 3, 2012

RASHEED GBADAMOSI

s Vice-Chairman of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) in 1997, some mutual friends of Fela and I thought I could muster the weight to prevail on the doubters that a concert by Fela at Muson would be a prudish mothers’ delight. Happily the Chairman, Louis Mbanefo, a pianist in his own right, Mrs. Francesca Emmanuel a soprano and I gave the nod to the General Manager, Muyiwa Awodiya to proceed with the arrangements. After all, Fela as a trained classical musician would easily scale through any insinuation as to his suitability to perform on MUSON stage in spite of his alleged irreverent life-style. There was a bit of Fela’s non-conformism I had imbibed too in years gone by. Indeed, I had in the early seventies been the Secretary of the National Association of Patriotic Writers and Artistes (NAPWA), a blatant and ideological bunch of us. Late Navy Captain Wole Bucknor, a musician too, was our Chairman. Radicals such as late Kanmi Ishola-Osobu, Ebenezer Babatope, Naiwu Osahon, Oladele Bank-Olemoh, late John Chukwu, Mr. Sonola, Ajibade Fashina-Thomas and others I forget were members. Fela was our idol, an ideological wizard whose Nkrumahist tendencies and bourgeoning protest music ascendancy was reaching a pinnacle. His invention of Afrobeat was non-pareil, its potency in confronting society’s ills was as legendary as it was unparalleled. In fact, Fela could be forgiven bits of his excesses and eccentricities. So, the spread and the universal width of his fans are indeed a testimony. My hyper-observant wife kept whispering to me at the concert that she had a suspicion something was amiss with Fela health-wise and that he appeared to have lost a great deal of weight. I took some photographs with him (one copy is one of my cherished possessions till date) and we reminisced on the pranks we had played all our yesteryears… Weeks later, Dede Mabiaku sought to see me one afternoon at my office. I had no idea that his mission was that of a harbinger of Fela’s slow descent into incapacitating illness. Dede incisively told me that my friend (Fela) was seriously ill and he would be pleased if I could come with him to Kalakuta Republic in order to persuade Fela to succumb to formal medical attention. After three days of search, I found our Chairman, Wole Bucknor and I was relieved he consented to accompany me to Kalakuta Republic. He had been Fela’s musical band mate in their London days, great friends and a deep working relationship. A bouncer type of a bodyguard was standing at Fela’s bedroom door; nobody was to be let in unless on Fela’s orders. Wole Bucknor banged on the door and spewing expletives intended on provoking Fela to open the door. Nothing happened. The houseboy was not budging; no sound came from the shut door. Day one passed; day two passed, too. Only the bodyguard was allowed access. Fela’s only sister, Aunty Dolu joined the vigil on day three, arriving from Abeokuta. A couple of days later, Femi, Yeni,

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Revisiting the immortal side of an iconoclast – 15 years later The eternal celebration of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (1938—1997)

...Gbadamosi (l) with Fela

I WISH I HADN’T DISPOSED OFF THE GREEN PRADO JEEP IN WHICH I LAY FELA IN THE BACK SEAT, EYES SHUT, BREATHING BUT IMMOBILE Sola, Seun and Dr. Dotun RansomeKuti showed up and latterly and several meetings later, Fela sent word one evening that he was now prepared to be taken to a hospital. I wish I hadn’t disposed off the green Prado jeep in which I lay Fela in the back seat, eyes shut, breathing but immobile. Femi sat next to the driver and I tried to watch the soft breathing of Abami Eda himself. I resolved to take Fela to the fartherest hospital –away from the journalists’ prying eyes. And Dr. Coker’s hospital in faraway Victoria Island was the obvious choice. For nine days, Fela laid on the hospital bed. Mercifully, Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Fela’s eldest brother, turned up having journeyed from somewhere and detoured to Lagos to see his sick brother. I braved witnessing a dialogue between the two brothers. Uncle Koye at one point was yelling his brother’s name, with no tangible response. I was frightened by his prognosis, as a renowned Professor of Medicine, that Fela was already in a coma! His daughters had earlier raised the spectre of his ebbing life too, impressing on me that Fela was not accepting any food. Sola, God bless her soul, was of the simplistic notion that perhaps Fela would get up and gain his strength once he accepted food.

Before I left his bedside, Fela opened his eyes, in fact one eye peered through my eyes and lifted his right hand in salute to the NAPWA days of defiance and theatrics. My spirit was buoyed by that singular act of near-resurrection. Perhaps the nights of vigil were coming to an end and we would sooner or later take Fela home. At about one o’clock in the morning, my bedroom telephone rang; Yeni Kuti was on the line. “Fela spoke a moment ago and he wanted to eat jollof rice.” I peremptorily woke my wife, Tinu, to make a dash for the kitchen. By 1.00 a.m., I was running up the hospital stairway with the food to Fela’s room. Yeni and Sola received me with qualified joy. “Your friend has gone off to sleep again!” I wonder if that was the last communication Fela, the loud Afrobeat musician had with any living being. On Saturday, August 2, 1997, I was again at the hospital. On the landing after the flight of stairs stood Dr. Dotun Ransome-Kuti, a veterinary doctor in his own right whispering loud to me that we had at last lost Fela. He had breathed his last… at about 5.30 p.m.! My observation of doctors, nurses et al going in and out of Fela’s room

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BEFORE I LEFT HIS BEDSIDE, FELA... LIFTED HIS RIGHT HAND IN SALUTE TO THE

NAPWA DAYS

OF DEFIANCE AND THEATRICS wearing white gloves all the time now came into bolder relief. For 12 days they had, under the leadership of Dr. Mrs. Akinsete, hoped against hope that perhaps a miracle would manifest and the ‘Chief Priest’ would himself get on his feet, clutch his saxophone and blow the defiance associated with his adopted name… Anikulapo! We had the task of removing Fela’s remains to LUTH mortuary but we were also conscious of our obligation to the society, to reach the media and the nation with the sad tale of Fela’s demise at 58 years of age. I accepted the consensus that I should scribble something and hit the NTA airwaves. I drove to the station. Cyril Stober, God bless his soul, consented to the broadcast provided I signed the statement thus, investing it with some credibility. A few days later, a formal press conference held at the Shrine and Uncle Koye made the sorrowful announcement that the dreaded scourge of human existence, AIDS, had taken the life of his brother, Fela. It was a packed house. Calm reigned and the August sunshine blazed in its glory. Arrangements commenced for the funeral. Simple; no religious rites save for the African essence of mourning. On August 11, the Tafawa Balewa Square witnessed an unprecedented stomping of its lawns and podium as Fela layin-state and a funeral procession I had never witnessed in the city of Lagos originated from TBS and swirled to Kalakuta Republic enroute to the Shrine. A journey of 40 minutes took six hours, until night fall! The city of Lagos was totally paralysed and only Fela could have been smiling in heaven that a total adulation and heroic procession were at last accorded him bereft of any government sponsorship or mobilisation. I had of course been part of the Kuti’s delegation to the police seeking permission for a procession and even in his death, Fela had earned total reprieve and redemption and the entire Lagos landscape was at his disposal. Tuesday, August 12 was the day Mother Earth at the Kalakuta Republic claimed a very special creation of Mother Africa; the earth shook and the moon made an appearance in the sky. The hoi poloi, rich and poor, the police, the law enforcers and the rogues and vagabonds –indeed, the totality of Fela’s constituency had lined the routes since Monday and were bidding Fela farewell to his grave. Chief Gbadamosi, OFR, a former minister of National Planning, is the convener of the annual Yusuf Grillo Art Pavilion Fiesta and a compelling art patron.

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Far from home, a Nigerian journalist Editor, Saturday Mirror, Gbemisola Olujobi was a visiting journalist from Nigeria with the San Francisco Chronicle in the summer of 2004 when she stumbled on an artistic exhibition for Afrobeat creator, Fela Kuti. In her years of meritorious journalistic work in Nigeria, the International Women’s Media Foundation Fellow never covered the arts beat, but her chance encounter in America with Fela’s tremendous art inspired this article which went on to win the award for Best Story representing the Bay Area’s Demographics. Excerpts: GBEMI OLUJOBI

t is in San Francisco, thousands of nautical miles from my Nigerian home, that I learn for the first time that Fela was born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun. This gaffe is not usual for someone who comes from a culture that places a high premium on names. But many things were not usual about Fela. He was simply Fela to everyone, and you didn’t bother to find out more. He was just there, all over the place, sort of ubiquitous, and you felt like you knew him inside-out. Fela’s music blares from loudspeakers everywhere on the streets of Nigeria, contributing in no small way to the aural cacophony for which Nigerian streets are (in) famous. His music carries a nuisance value along with its social relevance. You don’t mind the nuisance, anyway. This is your favourite brother yabbing (denigrating) your worst enemy. Fela’s yabis, as his music is fondly called, is often directed at the common enemy — government, its light-fingered officials and its bourgeois cronies. Afrobeat is the religion of the masses. It is Fela’s opium for the downtrodden. It offers both an escape from their woes and a means of getting back at the oppressor, with yabis (abusive jokes). Fela was everyone’s brother, never uncle or father. I doubt if he invoked such feelings in anyone. Even his children called him by name, simply Fela, like everyone else. No one called him daddy or uncle, despite the fact that he lived to be 58. Another unusual thing, in a society where age is revered and deferred to. He was familiar, in a funny way. If you didn’t like his person or his lifestyle, you liked his music. If you didn’t like his person, his lifestyle or his music, which would be strange, you liked him because he reminded you of your errant brother. You had the feeling you had known him all your life, even if you had never met him in the flesh. So, I walk into the Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts, for the opening of the exhibition titled, “Black President: The Art and Legacy of Fela Anikulapo- Kuti,” feeling “this is something that has to do with me”. Apart from being a Nigerian, I also share the same ethnic roots with Fela, being Yoruba. The Black President would probably have scoffed at this sentiment and dismissed it with an irreverent wave of his hand. Fela belonged to everyone who identified with him and with his music. Ethnic jingoism was not his style. Still, this was as close to home as I could ever hope to get in San Francisco. So I strut into the event with my ethnic chip firmly on my shoulders, not minding Fela’s pan-Africanism or pan-Nigerianism. “He was my brother, you know”, I long to tell everyone. This is my show! It is a typical Afrobeat gathering, eclectic and unpredictable. This is not your run-of-the-mill exhibition crowd. These are revellers, revelling in Afrobeat. Some are already in the orgasmic throes of Afrobeat, swaying to Shakara Oloje and other Fela evergreens, which

serenade the background. They are dressed for the event in the unconventional and unlikely clothes Abami Eda (the weird one), as Fela loved to be called, identified with. Some are in regular attire, however, the type Fela would have dismissed, with a snort and a sneer, as colo (colonial) and follow follow (following colonial tastes). The air is thick with conviviality, but not with Igbo (marijuana). They could at least have burnt Igbo as incense, to appease the spirit of Abami. I assume there are no Suegbes (uninitiated) here. Everyone should know what they are in for when dealing with Fela. I know what I am in for, so it doesn’t bother me when I go for a snack and there is nothing left. A lonely burger stares forlornly at me from one of the trays. The other trays are empty, apparently from a siege by famished devotees of the Afrobeat creed, obeying the instructions of the ‘’Chief-Priest’’ to the last letter. Fela loved to be called the Chief-Priest. Remember, Afrobeat is the religion of the underdog, the have-nots. And this empty table is just the way the Chief-Priest would have wanted it, to underline the hunger, famine and general depravity that is Africa’s lot. The exhibition statement describes Fela as a political rebel, an outspoken critic of corruption, a spiritualist, unabashed sex-symbol, husband to 28 women, utopian visionary and musical pioneer. This would have elicited a wide, toothy grin from Abami. The exhibition salutes these attributes. A colourful array of artists with diverse styles and forms contributed. Fela was largely colour blind, as long as you could connect with the spirit behind the rhythm. Trevor Schoonmaker, the moving force behind the Fela Project, writes in the exhibition catalog: “The artists, writers, musicians and intellectuals in The Fela Project are bound not by race but by a shared progressive ideology and creativity. Each artist and writer in this exhibition and catalog had a prior affinity with Fela and has examined in his or her work some of the cultural and socio-political themes that were central to Fela’s life and philosophy. They represent a broad range of ages as well as artistic and geographical backgrounds, and come from countries as diverse as Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, England, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the United States”. Fela relished his broad-spectrum appeal. He really would have liked this. Barkley Hendricks’ Fela: Amen, Amen, Amen strikes me like a thunderbolt. An oil and variegated leaf on canvas, it depicts Fela holding a microphone, a halo around his head, with a burning and inverted image of Africa, bound with barbed wire, on his chest. This is an apparent homage to pan-Africanism, which was close to Fela’s heart and for which he was idolised. It also has him clutching his famous groin, alluding to his scandalous sexuality, which many who idolised him sometimes found embarrassing. Fela certainly was phallocentric, without inhibitions, reservations or, indeed, apologies. Many other exhibits also explore Fela’s sexuality. I find Sokari Douglas Camp’s Open and Close Chop and Quench quite exhilarating. A kinetic sculpture of wood, steel, cowries and electric motor, it depicts a “Fela girl” (dancer) in full glory. But on her head is inscribed AIDS, in capital letters. The message I get from this is that Fela’s women, who formed an important part of his life and music, may have also been his undoing. They offered him a world of sexual pleasure and fulfilment (open) which ended his life (close). So, Fela chop (enjoyed) and quench (expired) through his women. Moyo Okediji’s Fela and Ogun in Mythopia follows Fela to spirit land, where he, hopefully, continues his enjoyment of heterosexual pleasures in the company of Ogun, the Yoruba deity of iron. Ogun, in Yoruba mythology, represents the basic primordial instincts, chief among which is propagation, sex. Ogun is male. He symbolises masculinity and virility. He certainly would have been Fela’s patron saint if this were Catholicism. Satch Hoyt’s The Shrine, a sound capsule, draws a large gathering. Everyone wants to get inside it. Only one person can go in it at a time, so the queue is long. I don’t

Book by Trevor Schoonmaker

MOYO OKEDIJI’S “FELA AND OGUN IN MYTHOPIA” FOLLOWS FELA TO SPIRIT LAND, WHERE HE, HOPEFULLY, CONTINUES HIS ENJOYMENT OF HETEROSEXUAL PLEASURES make it inside, even though I try several times. I hear it houses 27 shrines, one for each Fela queen. But where is Remi’s shrine? Remi was Fela’s first wife and mother of his first three children. Her good-natured reply to inquiries on how she felt about Fela taking 27 more wives is reported to be, “At least he is being honest now. He always had many girlfriends”. Very typical of a Nigerian woman. She has been conditioned to accept whatever her man does with patience and fortitude. Long suffering is a virtue. Wangechi Mutu’s Yo’ Mama celebrates Fela’s mother, the irrepressible Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, heroine of feminism in Nigeria and one of those who fought for Nigeria’s independence. She is reputed to be the first Nigerian woman to drive a car; Fela is said to have inherited his indomitable spirit from her. I grew up knowing Fela as omo iya aje (son of a witch). He was said to have been his mother’s favourite son. Many myths were spun around their famous relationship. It was

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 3, 2012

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

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finds Fela’s legacy alive and well in art YOU NEEDED AN EXPLANATION OF HOW ANYONE COULD TAKE THE MANY BEATINGS THAT

FELA TOOK FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

Fela

said that Funmilayo had magical powers, which she used to make Fela invisible whenever the police came for him, which was quite often because of his posture as a social critic and his open use of marijuana. So invariably, as the legend had it, the police could only find Fela if his mother was not around to work her magic. And on occasions when these officers found him, the legend said, Funmilayo would use her magical powers to remove Fela’s hide and replace it with the hide of another person, so that when the policemen thought they were thrashing Fela, it was infact another person who was taking the beating. You needed an explanation, really, of how anyone could take the many beatings that Fela took from law enforcement officers. It had to be something supernatural. So this story stuck easily. Funmilayo eventually died for the love of her son. During an army raid on Fela’s Kalakuta Republic, as he dubbed his abode, Funmilayo, then 78 years old, was thrown from a second-story window. She died soon after from the injuries she sustained. To this day, the sound of Fela crooning “dem kill my mama, dem kill my mama, dem kill my mama (they killed my mother)” still makes my eyes moist. Here, like everywhere Fela’s life is examined, it is the relationship with his women— his mother, who moulded his character and imbued him with his crusading spirit, and his queens, who contributed to the making of his legend— that most draws me in. His sexuality is the most intriguing aspect of him; this is the part of him many people do not understand. Fela was a musical legend, a pan-Africanist, a social

critic, an iconoclast, a renegade and all that. But here again was a world-class lover of women and a husband of 28 wives, who often said, without batting an eyelid, that sex was his favourite pastime. Many would understandably see this as promiscuity. But I beg, as always, to differ on that. My moment of glory comes when a middle-aged White woman turns to me for an explanation of “Lady Na Master’,’ one of the most compelling pieces on display. The work, made of fabric on armature and wood, depicts 27 headless female figures on a table. “What does this mean?” she asks me. I explain to her that the work is a celebration of Fela’s marriage to 27 women in one day. I notice that this has an effect on her, so I go on to regale her with more tales of Fela’s legendary sexuality. “Ouch”, she says, twisting her lips in distaste. “He was so disrespectful of women”. “On the contrary”, I say. Fela lived in a patriarchal society that glorifies maleness and worships manhood; where a woman is nothing without a man; where a woman must be married to be considered a real woman. Such a society actively encourages women to give up everything for the “fulfilment’’ of male affection, defines a woman by her marital status and questions, in the most cruel way, her essence as a woman if she is not married. So in his own, perhaps warped, way Fela, through his prolific sexuality, was merely alleviating what he saw as the woe of this horde of unmarried women who flocked around him. Once a woman became one of Fela’s girls, as his dancers were called, it was certain that no other man would touch her. She was considered a prostitute. So what was the way out for these hapless females? How were they to get the fulfilment of male affection and the respectability of marriage? Fela sought to give them sexual fulfilment and gratification by bedding as many of them as he could, every day. He sought to give them the respectability only marriage could confer upon them, in this society that insists that marriage is the ultimate, by marrying all 27 of them. He married all of them on the same day so that they would all be equal. In that way, there would be no senior or first wife to lord it over everyone else.

He may have spent and worn himself out to prove this point. He may have made himself controversial and even hated. He may have died from proving this point, of AIDS, but he succeeded in a way. After the marriage ceremony, the girls ceased to be called prostitutes. Instead, everyone started referring to them as Fela’s Queens. The White lady buys my reasoning, with a broad smile and several nods. She proceeds to pass the revelation on to the other bemused people who stand before the controversial work demanding an explanation. I am fulfilled. Mission accomplished. Significantly, the artist, Yinka Shonibare, says of this work, “This piece is a celebration of the excess and the pleasures that Fela received from female attention. The title comes from Fela’s song, “Lady”. In the song, Fela celebrates the assertiveness of women. It has to be said that to contemporary ears, it may sound rather condescending, but in the context of a patriarchal Nigerian society, the song was a triumph, a pro-feminist anthem. Sometimes you have to read between the lines. To the ordinary observer, Fela was certainly condescending and patronising in his attitude toward women. But to the deeper observer, who can situate his actions within the context of a patriarchal, male-dominated society, Fela would come out as a champion of women. By a stroke of providence, I happen upon Yemi Elebuibon, chief priest of Ifa, the ancient philosophy to which Fela turned for customary legitimacy in his weird marital adventure. Even in a polygamous society like Nigeria, taking 27 brides in one day was way overboard. The marriage was conducted by an Ifa priest. What better place to run into an Ifa priest. Even seeing him from behind, I know this man is from home. Something is oddly familiar about him. My eyes must have pierced his soul through his back. He turns and sizes me up. I immediately notice the horizontal etchings on his cheeks, the tribal marks of Yorubas of Oyo stock. What a pleasant surprise. I bend my knees in greeting. He moves closer for introductions and pleasantries. At first we talk about home and the many problems we have left behind. We transpose this event to Lagos and have a good laugh about what would have happened there. Something would have been gained, no doubt. But something lost, too— either a wallet, a mobile phone or some jewellery— to the area- boys (street urchins/ hoodlums), who generally assume that anything that has to do with Fela has to do with them. On the other hand, the area-boys could declare it a work-free event, to honour “Baba” (old man/sage) as they fondly called Fela. He was their hero. We talk about Abami. We reminisce on his life and times. We talk about his legacy. We are sorry that he died but happy that he has joined the “living dead” to hover over those left behind and guide their steps. We are happier that he lives on, in his works and in the hearts of those whose lives he touched. We pray that whoever did this exhibition for Fela will be richly rewarded. We declare Fela an authentic “living dead”. We exchange more pleasantries and say goodbye, after beseeching Olodumare (the Almighty) to add to our own years, which is the customary Yoruba way of ending discussions about the dead. Well, Fela, it’s nice to know you are doing well over there! Sunre o Anikulapo (Sleep well, he that carries death in his pouch). Rest well, but don’t sleep! •

Culled from The San Francisco Chronicle

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

THE

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GHARIOKWU LEMI

Mark

fondly remember the 1970s as marking a turning point in Nigerian art and culture: the decade of FESTAC 77; period of great musical successes in genres such as Highlife, Juju, Apala, Sakara and Fuji; and the emergence of Afrobeat as a musical tour-de-force. It was the decade Nigeria ended its civil war. Although there was no democracy in place, quite a number of newspaper cartoonists and some musicians used their creativity to make political statements. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, however, was the most vocal and resilient with his music which he dubbed Afrobeat. Effectively challenging the forces of repression and corruption in governance, he suffered great consequences but never gave up the fight till he died. Ah yes, I knew and worked with Fela and to this day I can’t thank my stars enough. Our association was a close encounter of the divine kind and I’m so very proud to tell the story! Months before the naming of ‘Kalakuta Republic’, I earned Fela’s friendship in 1974 through my acquaintanceship with Babatunde Harrison, then of the Sunday Punch. Very eager to learn and in my last teenage year, I was a man in the making and ‘rearing to go’! I frequented the ‘Republic’ and within weeks got assimilated into the main ideological fold. My credentials were as good as they came: a great student of life, a PanAfricanist (albeit an acolyte) and a ‘highly gifted’ artist rolled into one. I passed my first test in flying colours, ‘Tunde Harrison was the

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Defining afrobeat album jackets and sleeves invigilator and Fela, the examiner. A life-like portrait of the ‘Abami’ did the magic, and with a stroke of fate my first opportunity to design Fela’s album cover came knocking on the door, and as great achievers do, I jumped, swung the door wide open and grabbed ‘Mr. Opportunity’ with both hands. For the next 19 years, I was to design some 26 thought-provoking album covers for his music. Early in 1974, Fela experienced his first beating and incarceration by the police. This gruesome experience inspired the hit song Alagbon Close whose cover was my first hit cover. Having listened ardently to the numerous recounting of the harrowing experience from the man himself and been privy to the various stages of composing the new tune, it was a fait accompli. The album cover was actually a montage of a drawing of Fela I had in my portfolio prior to my chance meeting with ‘Tunde. The said drawing reported the musician to be dancing on a mash of mud and rubbish from my own version of a cover of a previous hit album Roforofo Fight of the same year. This was what caught ‘Tunde’s attention in my collection whereby he asked if I could design record sleeves to which I answered in the affirmative. Alagbon Close album cover was a poster colour painting of a scenario with a rocky background with Fela’s ‘Kalakuta Republic’ standing solidly on the left and a decrepit Alagbon Close jail house with a broken chain, half of which is still attached to Fela’s left wrist as he dances triumphantly over a capsizing police patrol boat, helped in effect by a prodigious whale! This cover sent signals to all quarters that a new regime of album

cover art has begun. The next two album covers in 1975 No Bread and Kalakuta Show followed in tow of Fela’s vitriolic statements on vinyl. My No Bread was an elaborate oil painting, a melange of social ills plaguing a developing nation fuelled by the then recently introduced Udoji Bursary Awards for public workers- a fallout of the oil-boom. The cover foretold the ‘doom’ to come; ‘Mister inflation is in town’ was one of the warnings in the painting. This cover took the best of two weeks and a trip to ‘cloud nine’ to achieve! Fela had insisted I tried a concoction of ‘Igbo’(hemp) to ‘elevate’ my talent. Not wanting to let my great friend down, I tried the herb and the resultant effect was superb. But being a teetotaler with a mind of my own, I keyed my spirit on the frequency that produced the superb cover without any recourse to use of any addictive substance and continued with my blossoming career. I thereby, simply by meditation, had to tune into the right frequency whenever the need arises. Kalakuta Show is also an oil painting on canvas illustrating the arrogant sacking of the ‘Republic’ in another Fela versus Police drama, the highlight of which is a portrait of Fela’s plastered head and the smoking ‘Kalakuta Republic’ in the background with Fela and aides being brutalised; an escaping ‘People’s Lawyer ’ Kanmi Ishola Osobu (Fela’s radical lawyer; ‘looku lawyer, e dey run o’ in the popular song). Our association and friendship grew in leaps and bounds. I became a regular companion sharing the great ideology of Pan-Africanism and having my mind’s eye opened to the great thoughts of no less per-

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

A7 27

FELA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE SWEET AND SEDUCTIVE POWER OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE LOOKED UPON AS TABOO AND INVITED

NIGERIA TO

THE DEBATE

Lemi painting No Bread 1975

sonages than The Redeemer, Kwame Nkrumah, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey e.t.c. I became a travelling companion on some of the trips across the West African coast. I contributed my quota to this great struggle for the emancipation from mental slavery. I found myself in the vantage position of having a pre-knowledge of the logic behind the conception of some of his magnum opuses. With hard work and dedication, the illustration and design of the album covers became much easier. Great Fela records followed in succession and so did great Lemi sleeves. Rave reviews locally and internationally joined. In Daily Times of July 22, 1976, Eseoghene Barrett reviews Ikoyi Blindness album cover: “… The artist is the popular “Lemi” who has done quite a few other works on Fela’s albums. The title of the album is Ikoyi Blindness and the artist has depicted the affliction of the upper classes in purely graphic terms. The overdressed and puffed-up lawyer is scrambling away from his roots in Mushin, Idioro, Maroko e.t.c. with his eyes thoroughly blindfolded. Behind this frightened central figure, we see the ills of the modern society that he purports to lead, though he cannot, or rather will not see them. The colours used enhance the feeling of brutal neglect by the proliferation of blood-like red and flesh-like white, and in the foreground, the brush strokes are deliberately rough and random. This is one of the most striking record covers designed this year”. From Black Music and Jazz Reviews, May 1978, a reader in London writes... “Chris May’s (The Editor) review of Africa 70’s album “JJD” in the March issue of Black Music makes readily interesting reading except for a misconception of the message Fela was putting across in the said album. I disagree with Chris on his conclusion that Fela is directing his sardonic humor at the frequently arrogant critics of Black American visitors to West Africa. Fela’s message is very evident from the piece written at the back of the album by Ghariokwu Lemi (Afrika 70’s talented album designer) part of which I quote as follows: “In the hot baking sun, he is the only African man in suit and tie, he is the youngster in faded jeans, He is the alien in his country – his own motherland!” I believe the attack is on Africans who go abroad only to return home as fully Westernised black men”. In his book, Fela: Africa, The Imagined Continent, Prof. Sola Olorunyomi wrote: “Beyond the use of sound track as a medium of communication, Afrobeat music has also been extended via a discursive tradition on album jackets and sleeves…what we invariably find is a pictorial extension of Fela’s lyrical temperament which is at once dissensus and declamatory of views deemed to

be tilting the continent in the direction of ‘second slavery’ and a dependent political economy. This movement can be seen in light of a variety of issues that currently plague the nation —foremost among them being the country’s stagnant economy, its dilapidated transport, education and health infrastructures, lack of constant electricity and the ever-present parasitic forms of political corruption”. Olorunyomi surmised, “Although designed by different artists over the period, what is now associated with the typical Fela album sleeve-look is the body of works created by Ghariokwu Lemi, Fela’s

primary sleeve designer between 1974 and 1992, which undoubtedly, constitutes a corpus on their own merit”. In a recent interview, Vivien Goldman, writer and adjunct Professor of Punk, New York University notes; “Ghariokwu Lemi, whose sleeves set the visual tone for Fela's incendiary music is popularly known as Fela's Artist, and continues to make terrific art today, as well as lecturing on Afrobeat Art round the world”. It was that Fela had decided to make a thematic incursion regarding various untouchable subjects and aspects of our society in order to dismantle some myths and taboos by bringing such themes as lifestyle, politics, religion, sex and race to the discussion… He took advantage of the sweet and seductive power of those things that are looked upon as taboo and invited Nigeria to the debate and I stand with resoluteness behind him to this day. As Fela Anikulapo-Kuti said – “Music is the weapon of the future!” I daresay that the future is here, and no modern society can grow without the conscious and positive contribution of its own artisans and philosophers. Space will not permit a full treatise on Fela’s covers. My memoir, a work-in-progress will deal more elaborately with my close encounters with the ‘weird one’ and the resultant joy I derived from contributing to the struggles of my generation. I remember and salute Fela, as one of my mentors and great inspirators. Everybody say Yeah-Yeah!!! Lemi, a self-taught Fine Artist, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, has over 2,000 album covers to his credit. Named “King of Covers” by Guardian, UK and on Phaidon Press’ list of 100 influential graphic designers in the world, Lemi holds a dual lifetime membership of Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York.

MKO’s problem with Fela –Kola According to Fela’s narration in his biography Fela: This bitch of a life (Carlos Moore. 1982), his artiste contract with Decca, run by MKO Abiola, was terminated shortly after Kalakuta was burnt. Fela claimed this decision was a breach of agreement and demanded compensation of N250,000 as an escape clause in the contract stipulated. During police investigation, both parties met and Fela said Chief Abiola promised to “settle the matter”. A month later, Fela had not received any settlement and decided to take over Decca office as his residence living in the MD’s office with his wife for two weeks. However, during a recent interview with National Mirror, Kola Abiola, first son of the June 12 hero, gave a different account of the problem. Excerpts: What exactly went on with Fela and MKO?

To address my father’s relationship with late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, let me point out that MKO was a major shareholder in Decca (Afrodisia). They funded Fela’s film; Fela wanted his money upfront and my dad obliged him. During the invasion of Kalakuta, the army took the money away. Fela came back to demand for more money, but MKO refused. Femi (Fela’s son) and I grew up together in Surulere and the family had a cordial relationship.

Fela

MKO

Kola

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Egypt

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

s e r u d n e d n a b l ia r o m e Am ...and other bands which outlived their founders OLUMIDE ODUNTAN

hen the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti created the Egypt ‘80 Band in the 1980s, he probably never thought the band will outlive him. But at that time, Fela and the Egypt ’80 continued to record albums and tour the country, United States and Europe. Infact, Fela and the Egypt ’80 released hits and hot-selling albums like; ITT (International Thief Thief) and Beast of No Nation that infuriated the then military establishment.

Egypt 80 and Afrobeat The musical style performed by the late Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is a complex fusion of Jazz, Funk, Ghanaian/Nigerian High-life, psychedelic rock and traditional West African chants and rhythms. Afrobeat also borrows heavily from the native "tinker pan" Africanstyle percussion that Kuti acquired while studying in Ghana with Hugh Masekela, under the uncanny Hedzoleh Soundz. The importance of the imput of a strong member of the Egypt ’80 Band, Tony Allen (Fela's drummer of 20 years) in the creation of Afrobeat cannot be overstated. Fela once famously stated that, "without Tony Allen, there would be no Afrobeat". Afrobeat is characterised by a fairly large band with many instruments, vocals and a musical structure featuring jazzy, funky horn sections. The "endless groove" is used, in which a base rhythm of drums, shekere, muted West Africanstyle guitar and melodic bass guitar riffs are repeated throughout the song. Commonly, interlocking melodic riffs and rhythms are introduced one by one,

building the groove bit-by-bit and layerby-layer to an astonishing melodic and polyrhythmic complexity. The horn section then becomes prominent, introducing other riffs and main melodic themes. Fela's Egypt ’80 Band was notable for featuring two baritone saxophones. Some elements often present in Fela and the band’s music are the call-andresponse within the chorus and figurative but simple lyrics. Fela's songs were also very long, at least 10-15 minutes in length and many reaching the 20 or even 30 minutes mark. His LP records frequently had one 30-minute track per side. Typically, there is an instrumental "introduction" jam part of the song, perhaps 10-15 minutes long, before Fela starts singing the "main" part. Fela was known for his showmanship and his concerts were often quite outlandish and wild. He referred to his stage act as the Underground Spiritual Game. According to sources, at the age of nine, Fela’s youngest son, Seun Kuti expressed the wish to sing to his father. A short while later, Seun started acting as a sort of mascot and would sing a few songs backed by Egypt 80 before his father took to the stage.

Continuing the tradition After Fela’s death in 1997, Seun, then only 14 years old, became the lead singer of Egypt 80. He honed his musical skills for several years. Those skills were showcased to the world with his 2008 debut album, Many Things, produced by Martin Meissonnier, who had already produced two albums for his father. It was gathered that about threefourths of the current Egypt 80 line-up under Seun Kuti’s leadership consists of musicians that not only played with

FELA EGYPT 80 GREATEST HITS I reach... Them go turn green One thousand Unknown Make Make I reach into white soldiers them dey Soldier Don't ask me Them go turn red come (1981) Wait and see into blue People dey wonder, Make you no go anywhere Just wait make I tell you something [Chorus] Fela, you don come again! I never come again I still live dey faraway Make you wait till I reach where I dey go [Chorus] Where you dey go?

I say, I say, I say... This thing wey happen Happen for my country Na big big thing First time in the whole world If you hear the name, you go know Government magic Tell me the name now [Chorus] Government magic! Them go dabaru everything

Water dey go, water dey come Water dey go, water dey come Them go turn electric to candle Them go turn electric to candle Government magic Government magic I see dey come Small, small Look o, look o [Chorus] Left, right, left, right, left, right, left!

dey wonder, dey wonder One more time: people dey wonder, dey wonder, dey wonder Stevie Wonder dey there too Na one week after FESTAC too And dey broadcast on American satellite Around that time too now, I say to you Where these one

thousand soldiers them dey go? Look o Na Fela house Kalakuta Them don reach the place, them dey wait Them dey wait for... [Chorus] Order! Now listen [Chorus] Left, right, left, right, left, right, left! Them surround the place, kwam kwam kwam, them dey wait Wait them helmet

Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Egypt 80 perform at Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York. 1989. PHOTO CREDIT GORDON POLATNICK

the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, but often were arrested and harassed alongside the founder of the Afro-beat movement. It is obvious that there are challenges in keeping the Egypt 80 Band alive without Fela -for Seun, his father was a powerful personality to lose. And the task of keeping the band that Fela left behind has not been an easy one judging from

and them guns And them petrol and them matches Then again... [Chorus] Stand at ease! Fela dey for house Beko dey there too Them mama dey there too Beautiful peop le dey there too Frenchman dey there too Press man dey there too One-fifty of us dey there too Then suddenly,

suddenly, suddenly, suddenly... [Chorus] Jaba, jaba... Jubu, jubu... Jebe, jebe... Jawa, jawa... Them dey break, yes Them dey steal, yes Them dey loot, yes Them dey fuck some of the women by force, yes Them dey rape, yes Them dey burn, yes Them dey burn, yes Them dey burn, yes Them commot one student's eye, yes Them break some

what Seun expressed during an interview for Fela: 15 years after. “The hardest part was to start from scratch all over again”, said Seun. “Without Fela and the lack of support from the family made it impossible to use Fela's influence. So, the band members had to prove themselves all over again. People always say I get by because I am Fela's

some head Them break some some head

body Them carry everybody go inside jail

Them throw my mama Seventy-eight-yearold mama Political mama Ideological mama Influential mama...

[Chorus] Fall out! Everybody dey inside jail We dey wait twentyseven days Them lock us Press dey shout Radio dey ring People dey talk Them go burn Fela house

Them throw my mama out from window Them kill my mama Them kill my mama Them kill my mama Them kill my mama Them kill my mama Them carry every-

Wettin this Fela do? This government e bad o Wetin this Fela do?

Fela talk about soldiers Flogging civilians for streets Fela talk about government Wasting money for FESTAC Wetin this Fela do? This government e bad o People start to talk o Government start to shake o Then suddenly, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly... Government bring instruments of magic

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

A9 29

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 performing at the 2012 Reggae on the River festival, California, USA. PHOTO BOB DYLAN

son, but truly, the reverse is the case. I had to work and fight for every inch I gained as a young artiste”, he said insisting that, “right now, Egypt 80 is my accomplishment”. According to Seun, his legendary father did not leave behind instructions how the band was to be handled after his demise, but it would appear that Seun and

Them bring inquiry Them bring two men One soldier, one Justice The name of Justice: Mr. Justice Agwu Anya The other Justice: Mr. Justice Dosunmu Them start magic Them seize my house wey them don burn Them seize my land Them drive all the people wey live in area Two thousand citizens

Them make them all homeless now Them start magic Them start magic Them bring flame, them bring hat Them conjure, them bring rabbit Them bring egg, them bring smoke Them dey scream, them dey fall Them conjure, spirit catch them Them dey fall, them dey scream Them dey shout Them dey, them dey say [Chorus]

enduring members of the initial Egypt 80 may have put in extra efforts to keep the memorial band going. Seun is not one to mince words in giving credit to current members of Egypt 80 who have stayed with him to belt out fast-selling hits. “The biggest effort came from the band members who were willing to sacrifice their life to keep playing. These men

Unknown soldier! Na him do am Government magic I get some information for you I get some information for you That my mama wey you kill She fought for universal adult suffrage That my mama wey you kill She fought for universal adult suffrage That my mama wey you kill She is the only mother of this country

That my mama wey you kill She is the only mother of Nigeria Which kind injustice is this? Wetin concern government inside? If na unknown soldier I said, wetin concern government inside? If na unknown soldier We get unknown police We get unknown soldier We get unknown civilian

All is equal to unknown government We get unknown police Them go kill nine students We get unknown civilian Them go kill two soldiers We get unknown soldier I say unknown police And then unknown soldier And then unknown civilian All is equal to unknown government

were already in their 50s and 40s and I was only 14. If after 10 years it didn't work out, I would have been 24 with time to do other things but they had fewer options. It was great that they stayed and took the journey with me”, Seun said. Perhaps, members of Seun Kuti’s Egypt 80 borrowed the commitment to the music from the late Afrobeat legend himself. According to Seun, his father was a perfectionist. “When I was born, Fela was really relaxed with rehearsals. But people used to tell me that back in the days, it was hectic. Fela was always looking for mistakes. He was a perfectionist.” While some founding members of the Egypt 80 are still playing with Seun Kuti, one wonders how new members are attracted to the band. It was learnt that during Fela’s time, he preferred musicians joining the band with just basic knowledge so he could groom and mould them to fit his music. According to Seun Kuti, “Egypt 80 has never been a band with great individual talent but we train hard to be a great band collectively.” Asked what then has changed today about recruiting new members for the band in Fela’s absence, Seun said “nothing much has changed only that musicians are hard to come by in Nigeria”. Just like Fela’s Egypt 80 which continue to exist long after him, the Kevin R. Blanford Memorial Pipe Band was founded in 1986 as the R.P. Blandford and Son Pipe Band. The current name was assumed in 2003 in honour of the late Kevin Blandford. The band is currently under the direction of Pipe Major Scott Larson and Drum Sergeant Marie Pitre. The Kevin R. Blandford Memorial Pipe Band can be found performing at

Them turn green into red Them turn blue into white Them turn green into blue I'm finished, mother

Sorrow, Tears and Blood Chorus: Eh-yah! Everybody run run run Everybody scatter scatter Some people lost some bread Someone nearly die

Someone just die Police they come, army they come Confusion everywhere Chorus: Eh-yah! Seven minutes later All don't cool down, brother Police don't go away Army don't disappear Them leave sorrow, tears and blood Chorus: Them regular trademark! Them leave sorrow, tears and blood Them regular trademark

a variety of events in South California and across the United States. Kevin’s musical talent, teaching and leadership skills and his ability to work with diverse group of people, contributed to the making of one of the most successful pipe band organisations in the United States. Kevin led the band to several West Coast championship titles and a second place award at the 2000 World Championship in Scotland. After Kevin’s passing in November 2003, the band changed its name to the Kevin R. Blandford Memorial. Kevin’s dear friend and successor, Matt Nonnemacher led the band to many more prestigious titles, including a third and fifth place finish at the World Championships in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Like the Egypt 80 which continues to grow today, the Blandford organisation is still playing to fans’ delight. In addition, Blandford Memorial band now has over 40 pipers and drummers. But unlike the Egypt 80, the Blandford Memorial band draws it members from throughout the “Inland Empire” region of South California and from as far away as San Diego, Pacific Palisades, Nashville and Salt Lake City. The band boasts of a membership representative of California’s diversity. Although, Seun Kuti has continued to lead the band that his late father left behind, he is of the opinion that, “Egypt 80 is way more than a memorial band”. But as today marks the 15th anniversary of the passing away of the creator of Egypt 80, it is almost certain that the great Abami Eda will be proud his former band is still dishing out quality Afrobeat vibes.

That is why

reason to fear

Chorus: Eh-yah!

We no want die We no want wound We no want quench We no want go I get one child Mama dey for house Papa dey for house I want build house I don't build house I no want quench I want enjoy I no want go Ah! So policeman go slap your face You no go talk Army man go whip your yansh You go they look like donkey

Everybody run run run La la la la My people self they fear too much We fear for the thing we no see We fear for the air around us We fear to fight for freedom We fear to fight for liberty We fear to fight for justice We fear to fight for happiness We always get

Rhodesia they do them own Our leaders they yab for nothing South Africa they do them own Them leave sorrow, tears and blood Ah, na so Time will they go Time no wait for nobody Like that: choo, choo, choo, choo, ah But police go they come, army go they come With confusion In style like this:

A10 30

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fela protégés: Thriving on the legend’s legacy OSEYIZA OOGBODO DO AND TERH AGBEDEH

t is not surprising sing that there are many music artistes rtistes who have adopted Fela’s style tyle of music. Known as Afrobeat, t, the genre was created by Fela a himself from a fusion of Nigerian igerian and Ghanaian highlife, ghlife, jazz and soul. Since it was Afrobeat that made de Fela a worldwide music icon, it became a music genre that inspired other musicians to start performing it. The true heir who has taken Afrobeat to a really great height after Fela is Femi AnikulapoKuti, his son. The multi-award winning Femii started playing with th his father’s band from om age 15 and successfully fully Seun Kuti held the fort at Afrikan frikan Shrine during his father’s 20-month long incarceration. arceration. Now 50 years old,, the World Music Award winner er has brought a new energy to o Afrobeat while remaining true to the original sound. After Femi comes another of Fela’s son, Seun, toeing the father’s musical line. Seun inherited his father’s r’s prodigious Egypt ’80 band and together, they have released three albums and continue to tour festivals and concerts around the world. But even as Femi and Seun can be praised for trying to be original, Dede Mabiakwu another close associate of Fela’s while alive and an acknowledged mentor, failed to carry the legend’s torch long enough to make an impact in the music industry. At the time when he was actively performing, Dede sang Fela’s songs word for word, dressed like Fela and danced like him without variation. However, the artiste is respected in the arts for his thespian skills. Definitely, the aforementioned three have been Fela’s most visible protégés till date. However, they are not the only ones Fela inspired to do Afrobeat. Music artiste Adebantu Odukoya experiments with a variety of music genres resulting in an eclectic mix that is not only energetic but has also won him awards the world over. Bantu has opted for Afrobeats because he can identify strongly not only with Fela’s politics, but also his musical vision trying to carve out a unique African urban identity based on European and African traditional sounds. “Culturally, Afrobeat is rooted in something that I am strongly attached to; the Yoruba culture. Fela is always chanting from the Yoruba culture so it’s either folklore, singing or certain rhythmical elements from Egungun or Orisa festival, things that I have heard as a kid or that I have heard other people do”, Bantu explains. The KORA winning artiste said he gravitated naturally towards Afrobeat because it gave him a confirmation of identity; “So based on that, for me the challenge is ‘how would the urban Nigerian sound’? That is the challenge for me as a musician, I want to

the other with singer, Bob Ekat. Like most people who play Afrobeat, Edaoto co considers Fela to be a legend saying that he lea learnt a lot from the Afrobeat impresario. Only in his 20s, h he is not fazed that people associat associate Afrobeat with smoking gras grass and womanising considering that he lives a life that reflects positively on his music. “Fela Dede Mabiaku didn’t womanise, he had plenty of wives, which is allowed wh in the Yoruba traditional system. tr You Y don’t call that womanising. Fela took natural grass and as a person I don’t have any problem with that. I don’t use anything; I don’t do drugs and I don’t encourage it in my band”, he said. Ayetoro Band, led by pianist le Funsho Ogundipe, Fu has a singular mission; to play the miss best music wherever, Ade Bantu whenever whenev and for whoever the spirit moves. “We exist because of the great musical and artistic li lineages before us, and every play is tribute to the masters of Afro music and Jazz” reads a statement by th the band. Citing the Band’s influences, Fela K Kuti’s name came up prominently and music con contemporary Bantu also testified to Ayetoro’s ingenu ingenuity saying “Apart W4 from people like Ayetoro, who ha has created like an conceptualise my Yoruba Afrobeat soundtrack, it is more like it people are into culture, my European culture and my Nigerian culture, cinematic Afrobeat; that is what I call the style, it is an African culture into music. It is like Fela passed on like watching a silent movie while music is playing in the baton and he said, ‘okay, I call mine Afrobeat, now the background. Apart from people like that there is it is up to you guys to take it a bit further’, so that is the not much happening with Afrobeat in Nigeria”. challenge I think for my generation and the younger In contemporary pop music, Koko master D’Banj is generation, as well. I am not in my 20s but in my 40s most recognised of Fela protégés; it strongly reflects now so I have a different understanding of music and in his dressing, music and stage mannerisms. At a I have a different background”. stage, the celebrated singer tried to ape Fela’s famed Edaoto Aagbeniyi describes himself as the curator high libido status by risqué behavior and frequent of the Afrogenius Band. The kind of music he and his allusions to his sexuality. band play is Afrobeat, which he said called him rather W4 is the latest Fela wannabe protege and he does than him choosing to play it. “Afrobeat called me I not hide it. As a matter of fact, he reveals to anybody didn’t choose it. It’s a calling”. who asks him that he is copying Fela’s dressing, Asked to explain that he said it is much more than dancing and music. A contemporary Pop music anyone can contemplate. “It’s kind of a spiritual artiste, W4 infuses Afrobeat into his sound which has calling, it’s a culture, it’s an attitude, it’s a tradition, paid off for because the artiste is now being raved it’s a way of life, its more than just playing music. about. Formerly, he was seen as just a lackey of 2face It’s a divine call, it’s like a muse and you don’t force and Sound Sultan but he is now seen as his own man it on yourself. It’s an unconscious-conscious effort to since he became a Fela protégé. arriving at a musical journey,” he stated. Sound Sultan is also a proven Fela protégé; Explaining that he got the call to play Afrobeat listening to his songs proves it. Like W4, his version and started playing in 2000, Edaoto who said he met of Afrobeat is the type infused into Pop. In order to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti only twice, is the toast of a lot show that Fela is truly his inspiration, Sound Sultan of art and cultural gatherings in Lagos where he and is celebrating his 12th year on stage by rehashing the his Afrogenius band thrill. Although the band is yet Fela’s Broadway play on September 16. to release an album, the dreadlocked singer who has Alariwo of Afrika is another act who has found been playing Afrobeat since 2000, said they were close fame with Afrobeat. It is not the easiest of music to releasing an album. genres so anyone who can perform it with the least bit However, the nine-piece band is much sought after of flair makes headway in it. This, Alariwo has done for collaborations and so far have two in their kitty, and he continues to remain relevant since he keeps one with the poet and journalist, Akeem Lasisi and playing afrobeat.

FELA:

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 3, 2012

The contentious

HIV/AIDS toga

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

A11 31

Former Health Minister, late Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti was a celebrated upright Nigerian public official who led by example. But his announcement on August 3, 1997 at a press conference at the Afrika Shrine, Pepple Street, Ikeja that Fela, his younger brother and Afrobeat legend, had died of AIDS-related complications the previous day, took the world and indeed Nigerians by surprise.

SAM EFERARO HEALTH EDITOR

n this part of the world, people do not divulge the cause of their illness so easily, not to talk of identifying with a dreaded scourge that would see many scampering for safety just by mere mention of its name. But Olikoye Ransome Kuti was a rare breed. Apart from being a scion of the Ransome-Kuti family known for its courage and outspokenness, it was he, as Health Minister, that announced in 1985 that HIV/AIDS had found its way to the shores of Nigeria. Throughout his tenure, he tried to create awareness about the scourge, establishing the National AIDS Advisory Committee and the National Expert Advisory Committee on AIDS to help chart a course for the nation’s HIV/AIDS control programme. In spite of his efforts however, HIV/ AIDS was still shrouded in mystery in Nigeria. The country had its fair share of denials and general apathy by the populace. Indeed, Fela publicly and up till his last days denied the existence of the disease, describing it as another white man’s plot to further pulverise Africans. There was, however, clear indication that the dreaded scourge was already ravaging the country. For instance, in 1996, the Federal Ministry of Health announced that the adult HIV prevalence had increased from 18 percent in 1991 to 45 percent in 1996. Although, the exact number of people living with HIV/ AIDS was not known even as at 1997, the ministry estimated two years later in 1999 that over 2 million Nigerians were infected with HIV. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), as at the end of 2005, Nigeria had an estimated 2.9 million people living with the virus. Also, about 4.4 percent of women attending antenatal clinics then were found to be infected with HIV. Indeed, the prevalence of the disease among pregnant women reportedly exceeded 5 percent in almost a dozen states in the country. Prof. Ransome Kuti’s revelation about the cause of Fela’s death thus gave Nigeria a golden opportunity to give the HIV/AIDS scourge a human face. It was the first time a Nigerian, a popular figure at that, would be identified with the dreaded disease. No doubt the announcement worked. Fela’s death not only set the stage for awareness of the HIV/AIDS pandemic among Nigerians, it brought many people to a realisation of its presence and impact in the country. Indeed, some prostitutes reportedly confessed that their clients started wearing condoms after Olikoye’s announcement. The news that the Afrobeat legend died of the complications of AIDS was however not such a surprise –at least to anyone familiar with his bohemian lifestyle

Olikoye

Kevwe

Fela

and stories of his numerous women. Apart from getting married to 27 women that he wedded on the same day, he was reputed to have slept with hundreds of women, dozens of whom hung around his home until the end. Not too long before his death, it was reported widely in the media that he had been afflicted with a “strange disease” which peeled and discoloured his skin. The Abami Eda (strange one) as he was fondly referred to by his fans had declared then that he was changing his skin in a process that would make him look youthful forever. He refused treatment for his deteriorating health and would have nothing to do with Western medicine. Towards the end and under pressure from his family, Fela was moved into a clinic, it was not made public whether he was accepting modern drugs –against which he had always taken a stand on principle. Inspite of Olikoye’s announcement, made in the presence of Fela’s children, there has been a wave of resistance to the facts of Fela’s death. Indeed, the former minister recounted that the resistance began right from the hospital where the legend died. “Fela’s doctor came to me and said, ‘What should I write as the cause of death? And I said, “What did you find he died of ?’

TILL DATE, MANY OF FELA’S FANS STILL BELIEVE THAT THE

AIDS STORY WAS A FLUKE

She said it would be too terrible to write it AIDS is such a shame. So, I asked her, “Are you going to forge a death certificate?’”, Olikoye narrated in an interview. Till date, many of Fela’s fans still believe that the AIDS story was a fluke. Some argue that many of his wives who are still alive ought to have contracted or died of the disease if indeed Fela had AIDS. This argument was buttressed by Kevwe, one of his wives who claimed to have slept with the Afrobeat star more than any of the 27 wives. “If he died of AIDS, how come it did not affect me? Fela had slept with me more than anyone else in that house. I should be the first person to be infected with HIV/AIDS”, she was once quoted in the media. “It’s a lie. I did all the test in England. There is nothing wrong with me. I’m healthy. I am a nurse”, Kevwe, 52, told an online journal in 2010 shortly after Felabration, now an annual musical

event packaged to celebrate the superstar. Although many of Fela’s 27 wives had left him before his death, it is believed that a few had also died of the dreaded disease. It cannot however be ascertained whether they were infected by the Afrobeat legend or vice versa. Fela has since joined the growing list of HIV/AIDS denialists who have died from the condition and with symptoms characteristic of AIDS. According to AIDSTruth.org a website for scientific evidence for HIV/AIDS, a number of people diagnosed with HIV infection –people whose lives are in the balance– have become activists in the “AIDS dissident” movement. “Tragically, many of these individuals have died with symptoms and/or infectious illnesses that are characteristic of AIDS. Their friends in the denialist movement have in every instance insisted that HIV had nothing to do with their deaths. The medical records of dead denialists are, of course, not publicly available, but obituaries and reports of their untimely deaths almost always include descriptions of symptoms and conditions that are typical of latestage HIV disease and extremely rare in uninfected people…”. The Afrobeat legend was listed among such denialists.

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Constructing Fela’s dramatic narrative for cinema FEMI ODUGBEMI

or a nation with a vibrant motion picture industry, our response to the colossal resource that the life story of late Afrobeat impresario Fela Anikulapo presents is unsettling and queries our understanding and our appreciation of the narrative drama and approaches to which the “Fela phenomenon” lends itself. It is a damning reality that more than a decade and half since Fela’s death, not a single local production, feature or documentary or stage, has profiled any aspect of Fela’s life or captured the essence of his struggle. Our reluctance to embrace this incredible life story for its powerful dimensions of gripping drama and historical significance may be the greatest failure of our blossoming creative industries. Fela was the soundtrack that helped Nigerians confront and get through the worst of times with the military dictatorships and political avarice of corrupt regimes. Fela was about sex, an unsophisticated mating call captured in the sensuous gyrations of scantily-clad dancers in chicken-mesh cages. Fela was about drugs and addictions and the high cost of communal rebellion. Fela was resistance to systemic corruption and the oppression of power. Fela was a sacred communion between artist and audience – male and female, black and white, educated and illiterate, pimps and prostitutes, pastors and players, addicts and artistes. Fela was much more than the sum of his parts –he shouldered enormous risks and with unimaginable courage did things the rest of us can only dream of. The Fela story in film, is a narrative mirror that will afford us a glimpse at the naked soul of our national character from the prisms of our political history. Telling the “Fela story” is elusive to many filmmakers for daunting reasons. Firstly, it is a narrative that transcends the strict relation of facts and chronology yet affirming a personal vision that is both objectively informed and subjectively charged. And with an audience already fed fat by popular myth, the research exposes the filmmaker to an overload of myth that may or may not be historically false! Thus, there is from within the creative wells of the innocent narrator a contradictory insistence on both accuracy and license. It is in the end a balance of understanding between biography and myth. The narrative of Fela’s life and times therefore is less about music than about a consciousness – his music was the soundtrack steering our experience of his philosophy and politics. It is trite but significant to repeat the obvious -Fela was a highly multi-dimensional subject with a varied audience. The second challenge of creating a narrative of Fela’s life arises from grappling the very complicated character himself, as a protagonist and the various contradictions his life presented: The son of a reverend gentleman, who became the High Priest of the caricature “Shrine” that was home to his fiery performances. A classicallytrained musician with a privileged education in England, who became the creator of a violent fusion of jazz layered with rich rhythmic percussions and lyrics in the colloquially visual pidgin language most accessible to the deprived and disadvantaged populations of Africa. For a filmmaker, a director, or storyteller trying to create a narrative of Fela, the daunting challenges in the immediate beginning will be to define what Fela was, what people’s expectation of that narrative would be and exactly what part of his life you would isolate to dramatise in the narrative. Normally, biographies tend to take a portion of the subject’s life and try to dramatise it in a

FELA’S LIFE STORY LOOMS AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY WE OWE THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF THIS COUNTRY TO EXPERIENCE three act structure; whether it is documentary, drama, stage play or biography as a musical, the concentration is on aspects of the subject’s life that are most impactful and not usually the whole of the life. The creative or interpretative challenge is to demonstrate certain values or incidences that are representative of the subject’s character and values, but more than anything, of the subject’s impact on a community or on an institution. Strangely enough, I have been somewhat fated to experience at very close quarters a few brilliant visual narrators struggle to define the dimensions of Fela in a motion picture narrative. First, was celebrated documentary director John Akromfah of Smoking Dog Films UK, who has spent the last decade or so trying to piece together enough footages to construct a documentary narrative of Fela from a perspective that defines what his music and personality means historically and culturally. I spent many hours with John in Accra ruminating on the difficulty of a Fela narrative simply because his life unfolded in measures drama unlike that of any regular biographic subject and the incidences of his life were so profound that they demanded individually in of themselves a film! For example, the whole story of how Fela’s house was burnt by soldiers and the drama and tragedy of that incident is a three-act film on its own! And one loaded with intrigue, suspense, action and characters that were as compelling as any fictional explication could conjure. Before I met John though, I had also watched the French documentary Fela Kuti: Music is the Weapon by StephaneTchal-Gadjieff and Jean Jacques Flori. That was shot in 1982 and basically focused its narrative on Fela as avant garde, urban revolutionary whose music is inspired by the politics and poverty of his country. It was an interesting effort and I have since screened the film at one of our monthly documentary screenings at IREP. But that effort had a typical problem of films about Africa produced by filmmakers from outside of the African experience –its perspective betrayed a measure of condescension which I am sure even Fela himself would have found uncomfortable at best. As I have stressed time and again at the iRepresent Documentary Film Forums, the abiding challenge for Africa in these narrative expression has always been who is telling the story of the African experience and from what perspective? My second memory of interrogating a motion picture narrative of Fela’s story is the aborted autobiographical film The Black President produced by Fela himself and directed by veteran professional Alex Oduro. Of course,

Sahr Nguajah (standing) as Fela in the broadway musical FELA!

the bulk of the footage already shot was lost in the inferno that erupted after soldiers invaded Fela’s home in Idi-Oro in the “unknown soldier” saga. But the bits I had the privilege of viewing from the rescued footage gave interesting insight into what Fela himself viewed as the most engaging drama of his life. He obviously viewed the irony of his upbringing in a strict Christian family and the African cultural ethos he would embrace in latter life as the heart of his biographical narrative –the son of the reverend gentleman now the Ifa priest of the Africa shrine! If there was anything that was clear from that, it was that Fela himself had an acute sense of the drama of his own life and wanted the opportunity to steer the narrative of its historical archiving. The contradictions was truly the narrative of the drama of Fela. For any storyteller, the more interesting aspect of Fela’s subconscious motivations as the central character of this narrative must be his rugged individualism which ensured that his political interventions, for instance, as founder of the political party “Movement of the People” (MOP) may be his best forays in improvisational art, because he simply made it up as he went along. Yet in his espoused political philosophy, he projected an idealistic view of what constituted political revolution and saw himself in the mould of transformational political heroes like Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara, Cuba’s Che Guevera and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah. My next encounter with the ‘Felastory’ as film was several months ago when UK filmmaker, Steve McQueen, came into Nigeria to walk the physical spaces of the Fela legend and recce locations for the shooting of the much-rumoured feature. I was McQueen’s local fixer. We visited the sites of Fela’s life story –from the old family house in Abeokuta to his resting place at Kalakuta Republic in Ikeja. Steve McQueen, a wellawarded experimental film director had, prior to his visit, buried himself for months in everything and anything he could find as research on Fela. Yet, by the time we would sit and talk with Femi Kuti and hear the inside stories of Fela taking a coffin to Dodan Barracks, the seat of government in 1979, McQueen had found a slice of narrative in Femi Kuti’s reminiscences that best demonstrated Fela’s most enduring character profile –his contradictions -courage, daring, impetuousness, recklessness all wrapped in a bravura that left his most rabid antagonists speechless! My most recent and perhaps most rewarding encounter with a narrative of the Fela’s story, however, was the most filmic though not designed for film. The award-winning Broadway play, FELA! produced by Shawn Jay Z Carter, Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith, which came to Nigeria and played to sold-out audiences at the shrine and at Eko Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos. It was perhaps the first definitive explication of Fela’s biographical narrative that may also now have defined the smartest creative approach. FELA! on Broadway

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

FELA

Friday, August 3, 2012

LONG TREK TO BURY

OLUMIDE ODUNTAN

during its showing at the African Shrine last year. PHOTO: UCHE JAMES-IROHA

expressed the narrative of the Fela phenomenon in a three dimensional presentation that I think may finally have defined how all storytellers in the motion picture realm must layer their profile of Fela’s life story. The music is one dimension. Fela’s Africanist ideology is a second dimension. And of course his confrontational activism is the third dimension. Fela on Broadway revealed that rather than looking for the events and timelines in Fela’s life to guide or form the three act structure of the narrative, perhaps the dimensions of his experiences can be tracked in small digestive capsules, with the music being representative of melodic timeline of the story’s structure. Going forward, everybody that seeks to create a narrative of Fela must now speak to those three dimensions, whether it is film, book, play or musical. What FELA! on Broadway did was create for us a template with which to attack the biographical narrative of this African colossus. In this milestone of the anniversary of his passing, Fela’s life story looms as an important part of our history we owe the future generations of this country to experience. The timelessness of Fela is demonstrated in the unprecedented global acceptance of his Afrobeat music. Today there are over 100 Afrobeat bands in global hotspots like New York, Paris and London and Hong Kong. The music is finding definition and new expressions. The blasting of horns, the violent beat and the jazz defined solos, have all become a staple of world music. The most interesting revelation of my encounters with the Fela story, 15 years after his passing is that the narrative is open-ended. His consciousness is like a body of prophecy that is gradually, but continuously manifesting long after his death. The things he talked about -our country, the confusion, the political defections, the lack of democratic ethos, the poverty and the corruption are still there. When Fela labelled himself the Black President, maybe we were mistaken in imagining that he fell short of his ambition at his death. His voice is immortalised as that beacon of popular leadership and courage for Africa and Africans in the diaspora. Now, we need filmmakers and visual storytellers who will immortalise in cinema, a Fela narrative structure that acknowledges the dimensions of his impact and honours the “truth” of his character. Odugbemi is Co-Founder/Executive Director of i-Rep International Documentary Forum and MD/CEO of DVWORX Studios Lagos.

n August 12, 1997, the day the late Afro-beat king, Fela AnikulapoKuti was laid to rest, it was obvious to any visitor to Lagos/Nigeria that something out of the ordinary was happening. The Abami Eda was buried amid pomp and ceremony, which may not have accompanied just any burial. National Mirror spoke with some journalists who covered the funeral procession of

OZOLUA UHAKHEME, Asst. Editor, The Nation, who was at that time a writer on the Arts Desk of The Guardian, recalls.

“T

he Art Desk of The Guardian was relocated to the TBS on that day, each member covering different aspects of the funeral. And at intervals each reporter was asked to send reports to the newsroom. The long walk started after the lying in-state of Fela at the TBS. Expectedly, this moment of last respect attracted hundreds of thousands of Fela’s fans, friends, professional colleagues, relations and general public. Despite the long hours of stay under the scorching sun at TBS, Nigerians were in high spirit and ready to pay Abami Eda the last respect. And the walk was led by the undertaker conveying the corpse through the Apongbon via Western Avenue down to Ikeja. All through the procession, traffic on this route was literarily at a standstill as the multitude on the road overflowed the entire space. From young to old, women and men, the carnival-like procession crawled through the route attracting other bye-standers as well as sympathisers who at intervals created some all manners of drama with the different posters, banners in their possession. Law enforcement agents were however not left out in the carnival as many played along with the Fela fans who took advantage of the funeral to consume any size and quantity of Igbo, (Indian hemp). In fact, on this day, Igbo assumed a legal cigarette status for all and sundry. The climax was at Ikeja where Abami Eda ran a joint, Afrika Shrine on Pepple Street, and

fans and sympathisers that spanned the 26-kilometre breadth of Greater Lagos and involved close to two million people. The city ground to a halt on that day, as all businesses closed in fear of the utter mayhem that could be unleashed on the city. Fela was buried in the courtyard of his Ikeja Lagos home amidst jeers, singing, dancing and billowing clouds of Marijuana smoke, which Fela had named Nigerian National Grass in one of his songs. Here is what the journalists remembered.

with his residence at Gbemisola Street. The size of the procession got multiplied as hundreds of fans joined the walk at Ikeja, thus making it uncontrollable for the organisers. At the Kalakuta in Gbemisola, it was difficult for most people to move and area boys took advantage of this to pick pockets. The army of sympathisers on the street of Gbemisola was unprecedented and the smoking of Igbo became the norm on the street of Gbemisola.

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SOLA BALOGUN, Arts Editor, The Sun, shares his Fela burial experience as a reporter writing for The Guardian in 1997.

eople were trekking from Ikeja, but I joined them at Jibowu. That day, Lagos stood still for Fela. The old and young people trooped out to the streets. I remember they moved along Costain to Tafawa Balewa Square. They went through Apongbon, shouting and singing many of them were carrying Fela’s picture. I remember very well that by the time we got to TBS, the place was filled with people; it was a sunny day, but people defiled the hot sun. I also remember that Femi was on stage performing. There were people from his own band and that of Fela’s Egypt 80. People like the late Frances Kuboye and her husband, Tunde Kuboye, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, Chief Segun Osoba and Dede Mabiaku were there at TBS. I remember when I interviewed Chief Osoba about the crowd at TBS to honour Fela, he said after Awolowo, Nigeria had never witnessed such a crowd. He said that was to prove that Fela was loved by all and his music touched many people. The crowd at TBS must be over a million. I remember that at The Guardian, we were divided into groups to cover the event. Some monitored the event from the different routes to TBS. I never saw anybody cry; it was jubilation all the way, people were singing the praises of Fela as they trekked from Ikeja to TBS. In fact, the whole of TBS was playing his music. I have never witnessed such a crowd in my life. The general mood was more of celebration. I remember that members of the diplomatic corps were also well represented at TBS to honour Fela. Some of them were also part of the procession especially those that came from the French Cultural Centre. The beauty of it all was that apart from a few of Fela’s relations, nobody cried. People were just celebrating, singing and dancing.

Deputy Editor, Saturday Mirror, SAKIBU OLOKOJOBI narrates a more harrowing experience.

was on the Sunday desk at The Punch at that period. Three of us were sent from The Punch to cover the Fela’s event. I was sent to cover the actual burial at Fela’s residence in Gbemisola Street, Ikeja. It was a very rowdy situation. Some of us could not even get to see the real burial because the crowd was very large. Before the burial actually started, we saw some Fela’s fans dancing and smoking Indian hemp. A particular incident even interested me; somewhere else in an adjoining street, we saw some of Fela’s fans celebrating; there was a particular woman in their mist who appeared to be under the influence of drug. The woman was dancing in a strange manner and people were clapping for her. When the burial was to start, the crowd even bigger; we couldn’t even get to the front of Fela’s house. The crowd was so much and they were even pushing some of us back. Some of Fela’s fans who wore pants to imitate Fela formed a circle and were dancing. So by the time the actual burial was to start, these fans had pushed some journalists to the back. We were also conscious of the fact that there could be pickpockets around us. In fact, that was the first time my pocket would be picked! I thought that because I was born and bred in Lagos, nobody could pick my pocket, but I was proven wrong that day. As two other journalists and I were moving, we saw a female journalist,

Bolade Fasasi who wanted to move along with us. But we had information that some people were raping girls right in front of Fela’s house on that day and because of what we heard, we put the lady in our mist and formed a shield around her. I did not witness any rape, but when we saw some girls run past us crying that they had been raped, the lady said she couldn’t continue with us again; so we had to turn back. As we were going back, I put the bag that I was carrying in front because I suspected there were pickpockets around. My thought was that I would see whoever wanted to take anything from it. I even removed everything in my pockets and put them in the bag. But lo and behold, by the time we moved forward a bit, I saw something flying out of my bag and when we got to a secure place where I could open my bag, I discovered that some of my things had gone yet, my bag was hanging right on my neck! Eventually, when I got to the front, I saw some pant-wearing fans of Fela forming a circle, although there was nobody in the centre, but they said that any girl who dared to pass through would suffer the consequences. I even witnessed a situation where a woman blew the smoke of Indian hemp into the face of a policeman who was there to control the crowd. Four or five streets away from Gbemisola, you could feel something was happening because the general mood was chaotic.

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Fifteen years after he passed on, Fela’s name has continued to dominate not only in music, but also in matters of the heart. NGOZI EMEDOLIBE

frobeat was not the only thing Fela Anikulapo Kuti conquered in his life time. He also had a phenomenal intimate story, which defined his days on earth. This aspect of the afrobeat legend is so important that it formed a crucial part of the highly successful Broadway show, FELA! The several accounts of how women flocked around him in his lifetime, is a typical pointer to the kind of attraction that existed between him and the opposite sex. The fact that 15 years after his death, so many of these women still boldly flaunt associating with him meant that Fela is a lover that leaves imprints on the hearts of women. From Remi Taylor, his only ‘legal’ wife to the 27 band members he wedded in one swoop to female mentors, there seemed to be something irresistible about Fela, which is obviously more than his skills in music. Aside Remilekun Taylor, whom he married in 1960 as his first wife (with whom he had Yeni, Femi and Sola), another woman that meant a lot to Fela, as documented in the book, The Life and Times of a Musical Icon was American music promoter, Sandra Isidore (nee Smith), whom he met in 1969, while trying to establish his presence in the Los Angeles musical circle. Describing her in the book k written by Michael Veal, Fela acknowledged d her as a woman who opened his eyes to o many things in life: “Sandra gave me the e education I wanted to know. She was the he one who opened my eyes. For the first time me I heard things I had never heard before about ut Africa! Sandra was my adviser; she talked d to o me about politics, history. She taught me what h t she h knew and what she knew was enough for me to start on”. It is generally believed that he had reciprocated this gesture by composing a song for her titled My Lady’s Frustration. Sandra on her part cherishes the moments she spent with the afrobeat musician. In an interview she granted Drew Lewksbury, an arts writer with LA Weekly, she revealed that her affair with Fela, happened like a click. “I was in love. From the time we met, we connected on a very strong level. We were together constantly in L.A., and remember, I had a car. I was really good to make sure he made his concerts and stuff. It was really exciting when he auditioned for Disneyland. I was like, ‘ooh, a free trip to Disneyland!’ I was so excited, but at the end of the day, I was disappointed. Disneyland told Fela that he wasn’t playing African music. They wanted him to play in Adventure land”. According to her, it was a friend named Juno Lewis who introduced her to Fela. “It was Juno Lewis (jazz musician) who had insisted that I come with him to see this group from Nigeria. I was somewhat apprehensive, but Juno was so insistent that I see this group that he came and picked me up. We went to the Ambassador hotel for a NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) event. I looked up on the stage and Fela was looking down, and there was an immediate connection. I was sitting at the table, enjoying the party and Juno came over when the band had an intermission, he said someone wanted to meet me. When I went to the bar, Fela was there. Juno was instrumental in making that happen and might I add, my life has never been the same since. It was very raw. The first thing out of his mouth was, “Do you have a car?” And I said yes, and he says, “Good, you’re going with me”. Just like that. We got together that day and we were together until he left. I laughed because I was the one with the car, so I

eF la

: i t u Ktimate

Fela Kuti and his queens/dancers

The

in y stor

thought that he h was cocky and somewhat arrogant. He was different from any of the other African students that I had met. So, the curiosity set in. Then, the situation changed; my parents had this back house that no one lived in and they wanted to help. So, Fela and the band were housed. It was August of ‘69 when I met him and they were there since I think maybe March of ‘69. Then they had to leave because there was a disgruntled Nigerian man who brought them here from Nigeria, and all that he said he was going to do for them fell through. It was Americans who came in to the rescue. The generosity of African-Americans helped Fela and the band stay here. Everyone was trying to help them stay in the country; we saw them as our brethren”. Fela’s magnetism followed him when he returned to Nigeria with his band, but got heightened during the Valentine period of 1978, when on February 18, he wedded 27 dancers in a ceremony administered by an Ifa priest. While the marriage is seen in some quarters as a way of shielding the dancers from the perpetual persecution by law enforcement agents who treat them as prostitutes, others think it was a way of legitimising Fela’s notable sexual appetite. But the mercurial Fela would, on leaving jail in 1985 on charges of currency trafficking (Amnesty International criticised the jail sentence as ‘politically motivated’), divorced the 12 remaining wives still with him. He had noted marriage as breeding jealousy and competition. The divorce immaterial, many of the women continued to hang around him with gusto. And some have continued to relish their memorable days with Fela. One of those is Oghenekevwe Kuti, born to parents who hail from present day Delta State. She left home in her teens where her paths crossed with the afrobeat legend’s in a studio, who initiated her into his dancing group with instant sex. From then on, Kevwe as she is called, became a regular

Fela with two of his wives in a divination process Photo Femi Osunla

A LOT OF US NOW REFUSE TO BE CALLED FELA’S WOMEN BECAUSE THEY SAID HE DIED OF

AIDS

face in the Fela household until the death of the musician in 1997. Oghenekevwe said her only regret about her Fela days was the use of marijuana, which was freely available in the household. “I have stopped smoking marijuana now, but then, I was doing it because, if you do not smoke it, Fela will not regard you as one of his own people. There is no problem about this. A lot of us now refuse to be called Fela’s women because they said he died of AIDS, which I don’t believe, because he was having sex regularly with me”. Although Oghenenkevwe’s life now depicts a life of despair, lacking basic things like a decent accommodation and a phone, Odun Kuti’s life paints a more horrible picture for a woman who shared part of her life with afrobeat legend. Sliding deeper into habitual drug use, she lives a beggarly life at the Ipodo Market area of Ikeja, notorious for the sale of hard drugs. She is mostly clad in faded clothes and torn shoes and the last time she was spotted, she was moving with a limp. Insinuations in the area suggest she

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FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

Friday, August 3, 2012

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Kalakuta Museum cements Fela’s legend status OSEYIZA OOGBODO

T Fela at home with two queens.

Photo:Enid Farber

Fela’s women backstage at the African Shrine, Pepple Street.

Remi

sustained the injury following a sexual assault by street urchins who also hang out at Ipodo Village. Some of the residents in the area, say she could be violent when she has fits due to cravings from her addiction and sometimes she sleeps on the streets of Ipodo, an obvious pointer to homelessness. However, Najite Kuti, another woman of the afrobeat musician lives far better than Odun and Kevwe. Najite owns a small drinking joint on Gbemisola Street in Ikeja but suggestion also points to the fact that the small drinking parlour caters to the drug needs of a lot of customers in the Ikeja area. However, she is hardly available at the joint these days, and this is attributable, according to sources to the court matter she has with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, who had arrested her sometime in July 2011, alongside another dancer called Helen Richards on drug-peddling charges. Lightskinned Najite, who is in her mid 40s, is one of the favourite dancers of the late Afrobeat legend due to her dexterity with twisting her waist to his beats. This good use of the waist may indeed have endeared her in bed as well to Fela. The story of Fela’s women however has good examples in the case of Kendi Hoffman, one of his dancers, who left the band to get married to a white man and has been pursuing a musical career. Although she is yet to become a success musically, she is striving to achieve this and has been working on her songs. The reason, however why her life is slightly different is that she left the band after she got pregnant for the white man.

of African ancestry Custodian of collectors’ and historical itemsbordering on fine and folk arts for public enjoyment and for scholars to assist in researches. • Ready accessibility of authentic materials and relics on the man referenced, • Serve as an educational, historical and cultural institution of music and musicality of African origin. • Entertainment of visitors to the museum. As said earlier, only legendary musicians have received this sort of treatment in the past. So, Fela also has joined the list of legends not just in spoken terms but hard, statistical terms. In America for instance, Elvis Presley’s residence, Graceland, is a museum that attracts visitors on a yearly basis and keeps earning revenue for the Presley family. Likewise Michael Jackson; his Neverland Ranch is now a museum and it is already pulling in massive revenue. Suffice it to say that these two American musicians are not the only two whose homes have been converted to museums but they are some of those whose names will keep drawing people forever. Fela’s addition to that list really proves he’s truly a legend. •

he real indication of Fela’s legendary status is none other than the upcoming Kalakuta Museum (KM). Such a museum can only be a viable proposition if it can attract worldwide tourism which it is certain that Fela’s name will make it do. Already, Fela has proven that he is a confirmed tourist attraction. Right from the onset when he formed his residence cum offices known as Kalakuta Republic at Empire in Ojuelegba, a surburb of Lagos and then Afrika Shrine, Pepple Street, Ikeja before he moved to his final residence at Gbemisola Street in the same Ikeja, all those abodes were Meccas, attracting people from all walks of life like a magnet. Kalakuta Museum makes a lot of sense because even now that he is dead, his residence is still a tourist attraction and the Afrika Shrine, though founded by his son but relying on Fela’s name and feats, is also a successful tourist attraction. A visit there at any hour of the day shows it to be a beehive of activities with both famous names and unknowns hanging out there. When the museum is therefore opened officially after being modernised to international standards and then promoted to the world as a tourist attraction, it will certainly draw visitors from all over the globe. It is not surprising that the Kalakuta Museum is being mooted; Fela has had a successful Broadway production of his life story in America and a Hollywood production is to follow soon. If Fela could pack audiences to watch his life story’s stage play, his museum will certainly draw tourists. But Kalakuta might never even be in planning and conception if not for the astuteness of Total Consult (TC) in recognising both its viability and necessity. Total Consult is a reputable firm of architects and builders of numerous projects, notably the conversion of the first colonial prison in central Lagos to Freedom Park, a fastrising historic and tourist spot in the city. According to Total Consult, when completed, Kalakuta Museum will have an exhibition area, a coffee shop, a five-room boutique hotel, a rooftop restaurant, a bar and stage, a souvenir shop, a passenger lift, the tomb area and the car park. It’s establishment is supported by the Lagos State Government and it’s scheduled for opening in October 2012 in time for Felabration, the annual music festival celebrating Fela’s life and his birthday on October 15. • Total Consult adds that the museum will achieve the following: • The preservation of the history of an illustrious son of Africa • Promotion of tourism in line with the Lagos State’s Mega City initiative • Acquisitions, display and preservation of the artifacts, documents and records of the man referenced as well as those of his contemporaries

Architectural model of the Kalakuta Museum

Side view

Rear view

Front view

ONLY LEGENDARY MUSICIANS HAVE RECEIVED THIS SORT OF TREATMENT IN THE PAST.

SO,

FELA ALSO HAS JOINED THE

LIST OF LEGENDS

Present day Kalakuta Republic under renovation.

PHOTO: Femi Ajasa

A16 36

FELA: 15 YEARS AFTER

His legend was birthed from the rarity of artistry; an unusual musician, composer, performer and... sensualist in all ramifications. Whatever he set his heart upon, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti explored beyond the realm of ordinariness to that of superlativeness. In the same mould was his performance arena born to accommodate the untamable creative ferocity which Fela’s music was. Without this stimulating and liberating arena, perhaps the history of music would be missing an integral genre named Afrobeat.

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

From Empire to Kalakuta ... and the New Afrika Shrine

ADENRELE NIYI

s paranormal activities go and if Fela’s spirit were to have a preferred haunting ground, Afrika Shrine would be it. Not the one located on NERDC Road in the industrial area of Agidingbi a Lagos suburb, but the Shrine situated on Pepple Street smack in the centre of bustling downtown Ikeja, a commercial/ residential district of Lagos. Unlike the glory days of the 70s when Baba 70 ruled supreme over goings-on at his music enclave and basked in the devotion of his queens, acolytes, band members and innumerable hangers-on, today the facade which once housed the Shrine has been reduced to a pile of rubble and dust. In its place, merchants of digital devices, computers, associated components, hardware and software have erected outlets and engulfed Pepple Street with the cacophony of a bustling trade zone. Thus, the neighbourhood is robbed of Fela’s intoxicating presence and his ghost denied tranquil hangout. But, rubble and dust are as much familiar features of Fela’s space as was the could-awaken-the-dead revelry which accompanied the music maestro’s live compositions routinely unleashed on Shrine devotees. Fela’s journey to club owner began shortly after his singing group morphed from Koola Lobitos to an emerging Highlife band, Fela and the Highlife Jazz Band. Mid 60s when sounds of Geraldo Pino and James Brown lit up dance houses in West Africa, the Trinity College-trained musician though a familiar face on the local club scene appearing on several stages for gigs was yet unheralded. However, 12 months of working in a Ghanaian club between ’66 and ’68 spurred the Afrobeat originator on to firm decisions about his future in music. In 1968, while cinders of the Nigerian Civil War were being stoked to a raging fire, Fela returned home armed with fresh Africanist ideologies to rechristen his jazzy/highlife sound ‘Afrobeat’ reflecting the modified instrumentation and social issues his lyrical themes addressed. He also changed the middle family name he bore from Ransome to Anikulapo (he who carried death in a pouch). Within the same period, Fela formed the Kalakuta Republic, his dwelling place, a commune, recording studio and home to

Femi performing at New Afrika Shrine.

PHOTO: Uche James-Iroha

some members of the bands (which he later declared independent from Nigeria). Also joining the fray in Fela’s pre-legend artistic expression was a night club, Afrospot situated inside Empire Hotel, Idi Oro, Lagos. There, he began to regularly perform in a pattern of this nature: Tuesday (ladies’ night); Friday (**Yabis night); Saturday (comprehensive show with the band wearing uniformed costumes) and Sunday (Sunday Jump). On that stretch of Agege Fela’s queens/dancers at Afro-spot. Motor Road right by the Nigeria Railway line, Afro-spot welcomed E ARE AT ALAKUTA variegated guests– bohemian souls, art enthusiasts, party carousers, free-spirits, EPUBLIC WHERE EVERY drifters and the occasional military officers. Abati Military Barracks shared boundaries THING POSSIBLE TO BE with Empire Hotel and rumours circulated HAPPY EVERY GODDAMN at the time that young officers like Murtala Muhammed (deceased), Theophilus THING TO BE HAPPY Danjuma, published poet Mamman Vasta (deceased) and Ibrahim Babangida showed ELA up on odd days. Outside, commercial activities sprang up and vendors of food, local brews, tobacco sticks, marijuana and In February 1977, the Nigerian Army other paraphernalia of night life feed fat on carried out a gruesome assault on Kalakuta Afro-spot’s popularity. Republic in a move to break Fela’s defiance Fela’s budding political activism voice and weaken his influence. After the dust and strong African instrumentals attracted settled, casualty report -intended and a rapid stream of Afro-spot faithfuls – collateral damage- included his brutalised although, having a bevy of uninhibited, mother, raped wives, pummeled band boys scantily-clad females strutting and jiggling (badly beaten, Fela escaped death by the on the dance floor certainly popularised the skin of his teeth) and Kalakuta razed to the shows which commenced late evenings and ground. wound down in wee hours of the morning. Trying to put pieces of his disjointed (Sunday Jumps were an exception because commune together, Fela abandoned Afroof the target audience, younger fans, and spot and secured temporary performance ended before midnight). space at Hotel Crossroads in Jibowu After years of experimenting with music between 1977 and ’78. By now, Fela’s band styles and finding his unique rhythm, had been renamed ‘Africa 70’ and he was releasing track after track of chart- to release an album **Kalakuta Show** breaking compositions and deepening which related his experience. his activist voice with vitriolic attacks on With his broadening influence as a government’s endemic mismanagement musician of African origin, Fela also and corruption, Fela became a marked delved into traditional African religion man with authorities but a loved crusader exploring deity worship and when, in 1978, for Nigerians feeling the pangs of he relocated to Pepple Street in Ikeja, Fela’s marginalisation. night club became known as the Afrika

W R

-F

Shrine. It is here Fela debuted some of his greatest compositions and also here Femi Kuti, the Afrobeat heir, got his first break on live stage taking over the Sunday Jump. Afrika Shrine basically toed Afrospot’s line but in slight variations. Fela employed private security with primary duties to secure the majorly residential environment from miscreants out to abuse the libertine atmosphere wherever Fela habited. Very little could stop the spillover of commercial activities with Shrine’s presence and some home owners quickly cashed in, opening bars in their frontage to accommodate the thousands who flocked Pepple Street for Fela’s performances. Police received petitions from undisclosed quarters and occasionally raids were carried out to apprehend anyone seen smoking or peddling marijuana. The Afrobeat legend spent the last 19 years of his life in this arena, holding court and enlarging his music orb till it attained the monumental status he presently enjoys. Today, The New Afrika Shrine, reopened at its present site in 2002 and solely owned by Fela’s children, Yeni and Femi, symbolises the spiritual home of everyone who believes in Africanism. Adorning the auditorium walls are sketched images of Fela, Sola (Fela’s younger daughter, a dancer, who passed on shortly after he did) and other African heros. In a section is a Shrine dedicated to the ‘Abami Eda’ (the weird one) and another bookshelf filled with books on great ideologists, panAfricanists, spiritual soul searching and traditional religion. More importantly, although no longer a commune the Shrine still serves as an enclave for the free-spirited where creativity finds expression without restraint. Social life continues on the street way into the night even on days when Femi is not performing and now, as if to give Fela some final respite, the Police keep a watchful but non-threatening, nondisruptive eye on the neighbourhood.

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Friday, August 3, 2012

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Ramadan 15, 1433AH

Ramadan Bonanza

YOU WHO BELIEVE! Fasting is prescribed for you just as it was prescribed for those before you. So that you will learn self-restraint from evil (Q2:183) In the last edition, attempts were made to explain the form and manner of fasting in Judaism and Christianity at a greater length so as to clearly negate the likely assumption that may arise from a shallow interpretation of the portion that “fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed to those before you”. It does not, in any way, mean that our fast in Islam is similar to that of the Jews, Christians and others. For those who are familiar with the Islamic fasting, they would observe a clear distinction. The message of this very portion is simply that fasting as a way of worship and self-denial is not a new idea. Due to its great and far-reaching values and significance, it has also been prescribed for the Islamic Ummah in a manner and form that befits their appellation as “Ummatan Wasatan” (a justly balanced nation) as well as to train and prepare them for the task of vicegerency. Most essentially, the fast will assist them on the field for Jihad, which requires perfect discipline, abstinence, patience and resoluteness. Hence, the fast is a provision for Jihad against all forces, which can derail man from the path of Allah (SWT). A person who cannot bring his self-desire under control cannot wage Jihad. For, he can be easily swept off his feet by the powerful currents of sensuality, luxuriousness and indiscipline, this, at a point, can cause the formidable army of Islam an irreparable damage. The quotations in the last edition about the Jewish and Christian fasts, in the first place, confirm the Quranic position that some other nations fasted; and secondly, it has plainly revealed that their fasts has no

Call to Worship

RAMADAN LECTURE AT MARKAZ

fixed days of fasting, definite forms, manners and methods. There was no fixed days of fasting, and in short it does not imbibe in them a unified fasting method and spirituality as individuals were left to abstain totally from food or partly, to fast on some days or not and to manipulate the period of the day or night they find convenient to fast, thus giving room for laxity most of the time and excessiveness at some other times. So, taking the backgrounds of the previous religions into consideration, Islam appears in an entirely new garb to satisfy all the essential aspects of fasting, to inculcate in man the desired moral, social, and spiritual lessons. It is a plus for Islam, and a confirmation of its universality that ever since it has been made obligatory, second year after the Hijrah, Muslims have continued to fast it in the same months for the same number of days (29 or 30), the same time of sahar and Iftar, engaging in the same spiritual activities like Tilawah, Sadaqah, Taraweeh, Tafseer, ’I‘tikaf, giving of Zakatul-Fitr and celebrating the Eidul-Fitr at the same time (1st of Shawwal). What a blessing and guidance! Having declared that the fasting of Ramadan is compulsory on the believers, Allah (SWT) quickly adds that same has been enjoined on those before them amongst the followers of divine religions. This addition or information is aimed at lessening their probable fear on how to go about it. Since some other people have experienced it before, it will psychologically make the task look easier for them.

L-R: Ustadh Murtadha Mustafa; Ustadh Abdul-Qadir Olawore and Rector, Arabic and Islamic Training Center, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah El-llory (OON), during the 13th Ramadan lecture of the Arabic and Islamic Training Centre (Markaz) in Lagos, yesterday.

L-R: Chief Executive Director, Owochem Oil and Gas Ltd., Alhaji Sulaiman Owolabi; Alhaji Abdul Rasheed Opeyemi and Chief Missioner, NASFAT, Alhaji Abdullah Akinbode at the occasion

Dr. Zafaran is the Director, Vanguards Academy TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

Parents and children’s upbringing

lmighty Allah has bestowed on parents to play certain roles in their children’s lives. Although, there may be instances whereby some children are born as orphans. In this case, their foster parents are expected to play the roles. After the delivery of a child, the parents are to give the child a good and Islamic name on the seventh day, shave the hair and slaughter a ram if there is capacity for this. Parents are enjoined to be playing with their children between the age bracket of one day and seven years on a regular basis. Thereafter, the children should be disciplined for a further seven years, and then befriended for the next seven years. For example, Solat times should be a time of great joy for young children. Parents should play on the prayer mat and display affection before starting, so that children have a positive disposition to this important Islamic ritual. Parents should show love and care to their children because many things could be achieved through display of real love. Parents can pick up the Qu’ran, take their children in their arms and read together. We need to move beyond memorization alone but capture our children’s imagination by telling them the Quranic stories in

a memorable way. There must be mutual respect because this is a must for any success to be recorded in any family. This translates into communities where children are heard and are encouraged to participate. A popular adage says that charity begins at home. Parents should create time for their children and not to leave everything in the hands of their children’s teachers. Consideration must be given to the children’s needs by their parents. Parents should encourage their children to always share with others. Parents should buy them what they need, not what they want. Parents should spend an average of one hour and a half on a daily basis with their children. The best way to wake up children is to say Asalam alaikum waramotulahi wabaraktu to them while still on bed. Parents should make Eid an awesome party and talk about the point of celebrating achievements. Sensitive issues like sex education with proper references to the Quran and Sunnah can be discussed with them. For daughters, honour, beauty, importance, etc of hijab should be emphasised as something a woman voluntarily does CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

L-R: Alhaji Nafiu Gaijowy; Alhaji Sulayman Eleshin and Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyi Jumo at the Ramadan lecture, yesterday.

L-R: Ustadh Ismail Abubakri; Ustadh Jamiu Hassan and Ustadh Muhammad Raji, at the event. PHOTOS: OLUFEMI AJASA

Call to Worship

Yaum al-Jumu’ah, Ramadan 15, 1433AH Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Ramadan, worship and righteous deeds CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 its conditions and to focus on good works. Otherwise, there are many in the world who eat in the morning and then do not eat anything till evening. There are the socalled ascetics who adopt the habit of not eating for days at a stretch while paying no attention to worship. The Holy Prophet (SAW) used to pay alms and give to charity throughout the year on a matchless scale but during Ramadan his charity used to gain the intensity of fierce wind. He used to also take his level of worship of God to an extreme level. He said that it should not be assumed that one would gain without making any effort during Ramadan and he drew our attention to seeking true beneficence. Certainly, Ramadan can be a source of revolutionary change, but it is for those who bring about pious changes in themselves, who try and adapt their word and deed in accordance to God’s pleasure, who try and establish God’s kingdom so that they can avail of God’s enhanced mercy and forgiveness during Ramadan. They crush to smithereens the untruth of their ‘self ’ (nafs) and this is when revolutionary change comes to pass. If we are to take full benefit from the month of Ramadan, we will have to straighten our paths of truth. We can only reach the doors of Paradise by reflecting over and putting in practice the pronouncement of the Holy Prophet (SAW) when he said that the standard of one’s word and deed should be raised otherwise, God is not interested in anyone starving.

Purpose of life and its attainment

RAMADAN CAN BE A SOURCE OF

REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE, BUT IT IS FOR THOSE WHO BRING ABOUT PIOUS CHANGES IN THEMSELVES Different people, being short-sighted and lacking high resolve, appoint different purposes for their lives and limit themselves to worldly goals and ambitions. But the purpose that God Almighty has appointed for man in His Holy Word is as follows: I have created men and jinn so that they may know Me and worship Me. Thus, the true purpose of man’s life is the worship of God, His understanding and complete devotion to Him. It is obvious that man is not in a position to appoint the purpose of his own life, for he does not come into the world of his own accord, nor will he depart there from of his own will. He is a creature and the One Who created him and invested him with better and higher faculties than those of all other animals, has also appointed a purpose for his life. Whether anyone penetrates it or not, the purpose of man’s creation without a doubt, is the worship and the understanding of God and complete devotion to Him. At another place, God Almighty has said in the Holy Qur’an, that the religion which provides true understanding of God and prescribes His true worship is Islam. Islam is inherent in man’s nature and man has been created in accord with Islam. That is the everlasting faith. This means

L-R: Hafiz Ismail Balogun, Alfa AbdulWahhab Bolanta, Dr. Saheed Timehin, National Propagation Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at during the Ramadan lecture yesterday.

Parents and children’s upbringing CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 for the sake of Allah. Mothers should talk about how they feel about their hijabs and share their own experiences. Also, parents should consult each other on how to raise their children. In Surah Al Baqarah, Allah talks about the decision to wean a child as one that both parents should cooperate in doing. It is worrisome to see nowadays that many fathers have given up their responsibilities as it is important for them to be fully involved in the upbringing of their children. The children are to be given Islamic training by sending them to Quranic School in the early part of their lives so that they can learn about their Creator. This will guide them in their future endea-

vour. The parents should encourage the children to imbibe all “dos and don’ts” as stated in the holy Qu’ran. Children should be given adequate training that will enhance their means of livelihood. It may be in form of western education or vocational training. In conclusion, children should be raised with love, kindness and above all based on the injunctions of Almighty Allah as stated in the Qu’ran and the teachings of the holy prophet Mohammed (SAW) as revealed in the hadiths. Sheik Abdul Gannyy Umar Arikunkewu is the Founder/National Chief Missioner of Jubulatu Rohfatu Llahi Islamic Society of Nigeria (JUBFAT)

that God has desired that man should devote himself to His worship and obedience and love, with all his faculties. That is why He has bestowed on man all the faculties that are appropriate for Islam. These verses have a very wide meaning, a part of which we have set out in the third part of the answer to the first question. Here we wish to state briefly that the true purpose of the internal and external limbs and faculties that have been bestowed on man is the understanding of God and His worship and His love. That is why, despite occupying himself with diverse projects in this life, man does not find his true welfare except in God. Having had great wealth, having held a high office, having become a great merchant, having ruled a great kingdom, having been known as a great philosopher, in the end, he departs from all these involvements with great regret. His heart constantly rebukes him on his total preoccupation with worldly affairs, and his conscience never approves his cunning and deceit and illicit activities. An intelligent person can appreciate this problem in this way also, that the purpose of everything is to be determined by its highest performance, beyond which its faculties cannot operate. For instance, the highest function of a bullock is ploughing or irrigation or transportation. Its faculties are not adapted to anything else. Therefore, the purpose of a bullock’s life is just these three things. It has no power to do anything else. But when we look into the faculties of man and try to discover what their highest reach is, we find that he seeks after God, the Exalted. He desires to become so devoted to God that he should keep nothing as

his own, and all that is his should become God’s. He shares with the other animals his natural urge towards eating, sleeping etc. In industry some animals are far ahead of him. Indeed, the bees extracting the essence of different types of flowers produce such excellent honey, that man has not yet been able to match them. It is obvious, therefore, that the highest reach of man’s faculties is to meet God, the Exalted. Thus, the true purpose of his life is that the window of his heart should open towards God. It may be asked how can this purpose be achieved and through what means can a person find God? The very first means of achieving this goal is to recognise God Almighty correctly and to believe in the True God. For if the very first step is not right, for instance, if a person believes in a bird, or an animal, or in the elements, or in the issue of a human being, as god, there can be no hope of his treading along the straight path in his further progress towards God. The True God helps His seekers, but how can a dead god help the dead? In this context, God the Glorious has set forth an excellent illustration: “Unto Him alone is the true prayer, as He has the power to do all things. Those, on whom they call beside Him, do not respond to them at all. Their case is like that of one who stretches forth his hand towards water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not. The prayers of those who are unaware of the True God are but a delusion.” The second means is to be informed of the perfect beauty of God Almighty; for the heart is naturally drawn to beauty, the observation of which generates love in the heart. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

L-R: Alhaji Ahmed Al-Hassan, Deputy Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Alhaji M.A. Agoro, Treasurer, Ikorodu Circuit; Alhaji Rizwan Ayoola Oluwa, President Pota (Badagry) Branch; Alhaji Mufadhil A. Bankole President Agege Circuit Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at at the lecture yesterday.

L-R: Alhaji Abdulfatai Junaid, Pa. AbdulGhaffar Omoyele, Major General (rtd) Sedu Balogun, former Military Gov. of Ogun State and Alhaji F.O. Bonojo at the lecture yesterday.

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business & Finance We must make our ports work for Nigerians who want to create jobs

In my job, I have more information on the banks than Fitch has, and I don’t have the concerns that Fitch has GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA, LAMIDO SANUSI

MINISTER OF FINANCE, NGOZI OKONJO –IWEALA

‘Customs duty killing local airlines’ OLUSEGUN KOIKI

igerian airlines spend an average of $4m (N620m) each on customs duties on aircraft brought into the country. This was revealed yesterday by the Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters, Capt. Akin Oni during a media chat with journalists in Lagos. Oni said that Nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where airline operators still pay customs duties on acquired aircraft and spare parts, noting that European countries, United States of America and even Ghana no longer pay customs duties

on aircraft and spares parts. He said that the $4m spent on customs duties could be used for construction of two standard maintenance hangar facilities anywhere in the country and maintained that without the abolition of the policy, Nigerian carriers would continually find it difficult to compete with their counterparts in the world. He recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo once abrogated the policy only for it to be re-introduced by his successor. He said, “Payment on customs duties for aircraft and its spares only happen in Nigeria and nowhere else does this happen. A carrier pays an average of $4m

on import duties on aircraft. That is huge. Aircraft are mobile resources that transport one around the world. This policy I have to tell you the truth is killing the industry. “Obasanjo once waived this policy before it was reintroduced. If this is reduced or abolished, it will reduce pressure from operators because with $4m, I can put two hangars up and immediately start maintenance business.” Besides, Oni disclosed that Bristow Helicopters budgeted about $7m on training of cadet pilots in 2012 excluding aircraft engineers while it spent $4.7 on the same purpose in 2011. He explained that so far, 12

L-R: Chairman, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; Managing Director, Mr. Alf Karlsen and Director, Alhaji Tajudeen Dantata, during the Annual General Meeting of the company in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO: ROTIMI OSASONA

cadet pilots had been sent on training to Florida, U.S, stressing that if the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria had commenced helicopter training as earlier promised, funds spent on training outside the country would have been cheaper. He emphasized further that the helicopter company had in the last four years commenced fleet renewal programme, which made it to replace its ageing fleet with newer ones, adding that it presently had 29 helicopters and an executive jet for its operations. He observed that Bristow presently commands 35 per cent of the market share, while Calverton Helicopters, Aero and Pan African has 25 per cent, 25 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. He said that Bristow would continually transform the aviation business in the country with focus on zero accident, zero downtown and zero complaints by its customers. “We are a listening company and we want to hear from our clients what we should do right. We are not competing purely on price because we know we can’t do this, but we will be prompt with our clients. That is the next level competition is moving to and we have to move to that level. All the same, we will not compromise on our safety,” he said.

Minister seeks labour’s support on power sector reforms JOHN UWE

he Federal Government has solicited the support of labour ensure that the remaining part of the pow-

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er sector reform becomes a success. Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, who held a two-hour crucial meeting with workers and the management of PHCN successor companies, intimated them about the final phase of the power sector reform exercise.

Nnaji stated that he came to have a face-toface interaction with the workers and to answer questions that may be agitating their minds over the ongoing privatisation exercise. “It is important for you to see me, ask me questions and get straight answers, rather than de-

BPE asks power sector investors to submit letters of credit

pending on third-party information that are often doctored by people with ulterior motives,” he said. He informed the workers that the reform of the power sector has entered a final stage and that government is ready to do what is necessary to see it to conclusion, includ-

ing taking care of workers’ welfare. Nnaji reaffirmed that no PHCN worker would be sacked as a result of privatisation. “The plan is to pay severance benefits to workers; the funds for this is ready and will be disbursed at the appropriate time,” he said.

Removing abandoned ships to enhance maritime safety and security

FLIGHT SCHEDULE Air Nigeria International (Lagos - London) Los- LGW (VK293): Tue, Thurs, Fri & Sat 11.55pm LGW-Los (VK292): Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 10.50am

Arik Air Los-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 10:20, 15:20, 16:20, 16:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Abj-Los: 07:15, 09:40, 10:20, 12:15, 15:15, 16:15, 17:10, (Mon-Fri/Sat); 12:15, 15:15, 16:15 (Sun) Los-PH: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:10, 17:15, (Mon-Fri) 07:30, 11:40, 15:50 (Sat) 11:50, 3:50, 17:05 (Sun) Abj-PH: 07:15, 11:20, 15:30 (Mon-Fri) 07:15, 16:00 (Sat) 13:10, 16:00, (Sun) PH-Abj: 08:45, 12:50, 17:00 (Mon-Fri) 08:45, 17:30 (Sat) 14:40, 17:30 (Sun) Abj-Ben: 08:00, 12:10 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 08:55, 12:10 (Sun) Ben-Abj: 09:55, 13:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat) 10:50, 13:30 (Sun)

Aero Contractors Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 16:45 (Sat). Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun) 18.30 (Sat) Los-Ben: 07:45, 11:00, 15:30, (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun) 12:30 (Sun) 15:30 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun) Ben-Los: 09:15, 12:30, 17:00 (Mon-Fri/ Sat/Sun) 17:00 (Sat), 14:00 (Sun)

EXCHANGE RATES WAUA

233.1736

USD

158.89

CHF

156.8468

SDR

233.6168

CFA

0.2868

GBP

242.1283

EURO

188.471

OIL / GAS FUTURES ICE BRENT

$123.39

-0.78

NYMEX

$108.45

-0.11

OPEC BASKET

$122.86

+1.16

NATURAL GAS

$2.83

-0.03

Business News

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

BPE gives power sector investors deadline to submit letters of credit UDEME AKPAN

he Federal Government has fixed deadlines for potential investors in the power sector to submit their letters of credit to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE). The transaction timeline reveals that the evaluation of the technical bids will take place between August 14 and 28, 2012 while the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) will approve the results of the technical evaluation by September 11, 2012. BPE confirmed that, “The deadline for the shortlisted bidders for generation companies to submit their letters of credit is September 18, 2012 while October 2, 2012 is the deadline for shortlisted bidders for distribution companies.” Spokesman of the organisation, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, who signed the statement for BPE said “Consequently, NCP’s approval will pave way for the opening of financial bids of the shortlisted investors.” He said BPE will on September 25, 2012 open the financial bids of

President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Barrister Laide Osijo presenting “ Insurance Brokers Recognition Award” to the Lagos State Traffic Managment Authority(LASTMA), through its Principal Traffic Officer, Mrs O. Seriki, while the Managing Director of Goldlink Insurance Plc, Mr Femi Okunniyi watches, at the July edition of NCRIB Members Evening, hosted by the company in Lagos, recently

prospective investors for the generating companies while October 10, 2012 is the date for the opening of the financial bids for the distribution companies. Nwokoh said, “The announcement of the preferred bidders for the generating companies is October 9, 2012 while October 23, 2012 is

South South geo-political zone yet to access any bailout funds - OPS STANLEY IHEDIGBO

embers of the Organised Private Sector in the South South geo –political zone have claimed that the zone was yet to access the Federal Government’s bailout funds since it was set up. The was made known at the one day bi-annual dialogue on “Impact of Government Intervention Funds in the Transformation of the Nigeria Economy “organised by the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), in collaboration with Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment (ENABLE) , in Lagos, yesterday. According to the ENABLE preevents survey reports presented at the event, the South South geopolitical zone real sector operators had made several attempts to assess the Federal Government intervention funds without success. The survey was targeted on sample size selected about 300 operators across the various sectors with the support from the respective states/cities chambers of commerce and NACCIMA. The President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Vincent Fure lamented that the zone where the wealth of nation based have not

assess the Federal government intervention is to show how the zone has be neglected in every area in the country . The Governor of the Central bank of Nigeria Mallam Lamido Sanusi however said that the bailout was geared towards the sustainable development of the national economy because the peculiar nature of Nigeria He said,“ Because of the level of development the Central Bank Nigeria seen the importance for the bank to actually drive the development process so this bring out some of the intervention , it was on the realization of our belief that having very strong and viable private sector, the issues of job creation and poverty alleviation will be a thing of the past”. CBN boss who was represented by a Deputy Director of Development Finance Department of agency, Dr. Muda Olaitan, said the funds will enable the private sector create employment opportunities by driving industralisation efforts in the country. The National President of the NACCIMA, Dr. Herbert Ajayi, said that his association has watched carefully and listened with keen interest to reactions in respect of the developments concerning the economy in the country, especially in the areas of the challenges posed to the real sector operators in accessing the various government intervention funds.

the date for the announcement of the preferred bidders for the distribution companies.” The Nigerian electricity industry has been unbundled into generation and distribution companies and a single transmission company with a view to encouraging private sector participation

and attracting foreign and local investment into the sector to ensure economic and reliable electricity supply. Prospective core investors, who must be local and/or international power distributors or investors with power distributors as technical partners, will be responsible

for operating the distribution companies, making the necessary investments to improve the distribution network and customer service in line with the objectives of the Federal Government of Nigeria. The firm slated for privatisation included: Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Jos Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Kano Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc. The nation’s electricity industry has been unbundled into generation and distribution companies and a single transmission company with a view to encouraging private sector participation and attracting foreign and local investment into the Nigerian power sector to ensure economic and reliable electricity supply.

Oxfam commits N1.19bn to Nigerian projects TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

xfam, an international confederation of 17 organisations networked together in about 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice, has in the past two years committed over N1.19bn to its various poverty alleviation and advocacy intervention programmes in the rural areas of the country. A breakdown of the investment interventions indicated that Oxfam GB, the arm involved in capacity building and advocacy interventions for small scale farmers through the Association of Small Scale Agriculture Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), has provided

about N383bn within the last 18 months to implement its various poverty-alleviating programmes. Its counterpart, Oxfam Novib, which is focused on attainment of Policy and Practice Changes (PPCs) and Strategic Change Objectives (SCOs) in key areas of fair trade, education and other basic social services, has spent about N812m during the same period. Making the disclosure during an interview with National Mirror, Oxfam GB Associate Country Director in Nigeria, Mr. Tunde Ojei, said his organization had been working mainly through Voices for Food Security Coalition, a coalition of civil society coalition that works directly with the small

scale farmers, to provide various capacity-building supports to the rural farmers. According to him, Oxfam GB has expended about 1.5 million pounds sterling on its activities in the past 18 months while he estimated that Oxfam, would have also committed about two million Euros yearly to its intervention programmes in the country. He explained: “In the last two years, I think we should have expended about 1.5m sterling pounds. But if I am to look at what the other Oxfam is bringing in, they have also been able to invest about two million Euros per year. But, you know, that is a drop in the ocean in terms of what Nigeria needs in terms of development.

FG, Rivers seal deal on procurement of Auto-Disabled Syringes MARCUS FATUNMOLE ABUJA

n fulfilment of the decision ratified by the National Council on Health at its 55th meeting in Abuja recently, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Rivers State Government on the procurement of new Auto-Disabled Syringes that would replace the conventional re-usable ones currently being used at various health facilities across the fed-

eration, effective from October first this year. Speaking at the signing yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the move was part of federal government’s fulfilment of its Transformation Agenda in the health sector. He noted that the President directed that the MoU on procurement be entered into between the state and the federal government. According to him, the benefitting company to procure the product, Pan African Heath Foundation (PAHF), was jointly

owned by many stakeholders including the federal government and Rivers state government. “This company is the only company in Nigeria that manufactures this product in Nigeria and certified by the World Health Organisation to produce the product in the country. What it means is that this product is a world-class and of international standard and will be produced by one of the only 18 companies world-wide that have got this recognition,” the minister remarked.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Business News

Friday, August 3, 2012

Employee Compensation Scheme: NECA gives conditions for fund remittance MESHACK IDEHEN

he Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, (NECA), has said it has given the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF), and other managers of the Employee’s Compensation Scheme (ECS), three conditions that must be met, if members made up of the nation’s employers will remit deducted fund into the scheme. Speaking in Lagos during a sensitisation and enlightenment forum on the new Employee’s Compensation Act 2010, organised by NECA and NSITF, NECA’s Director-General, Mr. Segun Osinowo, said that should the fund fail to meet the conditions set by the employers body, members would deduct the one per cent money as

required by the law, and would pay the money into a suspended account until the “NSITF turned a new leaf” The NECA D-G said also that employers would consistently demand performance from the fund in return for money contributed because the issue of governance had been a major problem confronting the country. He added further that while over 804 employers have been registered into the ECS, it was evident that most of the employers in the country were yet to register into the scheme. Listing the conditions for NECA full participation and commitment to the ECS, Osinowo said management efficiency and effectiveness remained the key, while also emphasising that the fund must perform if it

wants to get the support of employers in the implementation of the ECS. According to him, the NSITF must also provide good structures required for the operations of the scheme, adding that since the NSITF was demanding for speedy remittance of the money deducted, the fund should on its part provide a definite timeline for payment of compensation to employers whose employees sustain injuries and apply for claims. Osinowo told journalists that stakeholders should not be looking at the issue of ESC’s law, but the challenges in complying with the law, while also pleading with the NSITF to write off the debt of those who had remitted money from July 1, 2011 to January 2012.

Planning commission flags-off South-West GDP Computation today

he sixth in the series of ceremonial flag-off of States’ Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) Computation in Nigeria, being organised by the National Planning Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum Secretariat is scheduled kick off today in Lagos. According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary of the Commission, Alhaji Salisu Haiba, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, will deliver the keynote address, while Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) will be the Special Guest of Honour at the event. The flag-off ceremony in Lagos is for the States in the South West geo-political zone, and the choice of Lagos as the host State for the flag-off

was among others, as a result of economic activities in the State. The objective of the SGDP Computation project is to create a healthy competition among the states in the federation and provide a measure of economic activities in the States. Data generated from the computation would be used for various purposes such as national development plan and a guide to potential investors. It could be recalled that, six states, one per geo-political zone has been selected for the official/ceremonial flag-off. The selection was based on the volume of economic activities taking place in the states. Minna, Port-Harcourt, Kano, Gombe and Awka, had played host to the flag-off ceremony for the North - Central, South – South, North – West, North –East and South – East zones respectively.

Naira falls as bank sells least dollars in three weeks

L-R: Director, Large Tax Department (Oil and Gas), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Ajayi Bamidele; Acting Chairman, Alhaji Rabir Mashi, and Coordinating Director, Field Operations Group, Mr. Samuel Ogungbesan, at a ensitisation workshop on personal income tax amendment for ministries, department and agencies in FCT, Abuja, yesterday

Minister tasks committee on national parks commercialisation TOLA AKINMUTIMI ABUJA

he Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, has charged members of the steering committee on the commercialisation of Nigeria’s national parks to work assiduously to position the sector in order to contribute substantially to the national economy in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration Giving the charge at the inauguration of the committee in Abuja, the minister stated that the task before the committee was enormous and urged the members to study the report of the Working Group of the Steering Committee which contains an in-depth assessment of the

parks. Mailafia, noted that though the national parks were well endowed with natural resources, they were also bedevilled with numerous challenges such as inadequate and poor infrastructure, land use conflicts, low capacity and security issues. She urged the committee to consider limiting private sector involvement to the eco-tourism component while the “biodiversity aspect is left to the public sector as practiced in other parts of the world”. The minister pointed out that membership of the steering committee “cuts across the relevant government agencies, non-governmental organisations and support zone communities” and was deliberately designed to articulate a National

Parks Sector Policy that would ensure active participation of public sector in the sustainable management of the parks. Earlier, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, had said the steering committee was inaugurated by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) four years ago but that all efforts to hold the inaugural meeting had proved abortive. Onagoruwa identified the critical areas required to reform the sector in Nigeria as the need to have a national parks sector policy for the country; para-military status of park rangers; and urgent need to introduce critical infrastructure into and around the parks.

he naira fell for a third day against the dollar on the Nigerian interbank market after the central bank sold the lowest amount of United States currency in three weeks. The currency retreated 0.4 per cent to N161.43 per dollar yesterday, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Central Bank of Nigeria sold $450m at its foreign exchange auctions on Monday and Wednesday, the least since it sold a total of $343.53m on July 9 and July 11.

“If the central bank is not going to sell more than that it means you’ll have to go somewhere else,” Jide Solanke, an analyst at First Securities Discount House Limited said. The yield on Nigeria’s seven-year domestic bonds due June 2019 fell five basis points to 16.06 per cent, according to August 1 data on the Financial Markets Dealers Association website. Yields on the nation’s $500m of Eurobonds due 2021 rose by two basis points to 5.35 per cent.

Samsung to train 10,000 engineers in Nigeria, others KUNLE A ZEEZ

amsung Electronics West Africa has said it was determined to train over 10, 000 electronic engineers in Nigeria and other West African countries by 2015, as part of its decision to boost technical and engineering skills in the subregion. To achieve the target, the global information and Communication technology firm has in partnership with the Lagos Eko Secondary Education Project, a World Bank assisted initiative aimed at improving the quality of public secondary education, has commissioned the first Samsung Engineering Academy in West Africa to achieve set target.

The Academy, located within the premises of Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Ikeja, was opened by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Nicholas Shin said, “Our aim is to promote co-operation, innovation, wealth creation and to facilitate thought leadership in communities where we operate in response to the real need and conditions.” According to him, “Samsung Engineering Academy is our Corporate Social Responsibility SR initiative, undertaken in response of the need to train skilled workforce of technicians who will become service experts empowered to create wealth.

Maritime

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

he Federal Government and relevant agencies in the maritime industry, especially in the recent past have no doubt made several efforts at ridding the nation’s waters of wrecks, derelicts and other abandoned ships. It was probably worried by the degradation and the rate at which the Lagos coastline was being washed away that President Goodluck Jonathan last year ordered that all the wrecks and derelict vessels on the coastal waters and those buried underneath be cleared. The president gave this order when he visited Lekki Beach in Lagos. The Nairobi Convention rests the onus of removing wrecks on the ship owner but the obligation has been neglected, forcing the government to use some of its resources for evacuating the wreaks. For instance, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency have made efforts to rid the nation’s waters of wrecks and abandoned ships. It was in line with the commitment of these two agencies to clear the water ways that both, with the coordination by the Federal Ministry of Transport structured an agreement on how the wrecks and abandoned ships could be removed to forestall any possible conflict. Under the agreement, NPA is responsible for the removal of all wrecks within the ship channels while NIMASA is to handle wrecks outside the channels. It is also on record that many of the wrecks on the channels have been removed by NPA, probably because of the critical importance of the channels to Nigeria’s economy being the gateway both as a petroleum exporting and import-dependent country. But aside these, several wrecks, abandoned ships still litter the nation’s waters. In addition to these, vessels awaiting dry-docking also litter the Lagos waterways and navigation channels, thus posing economic, environment and security challenges to the nation. There are however fears that Nigeria is gradually becoming a dumping ground for old and abandoned vessels. The United Nations estimated that there are more than three million shipwrecks on the ocean floor globally, even as Nigeria and Lagos State in particular is one of the major cities that ship wrecks are lying under its bed. Maritime sources said that there are no fewer than 120 abandoned vessels, derelict ships and wrecks lying on Nigeria’s waters or buried on the seabed, which might require as much as N120 million to evacuate. This unfortunate development has become a threat to communities like Marine Road, Apapa, Liverpool, Tin-Can Island, Ilado, Ilashe, Mile 2, Ojo, Oko Afa, Alpha Beach, Lekki, Eleko, Badagry and several others, who are now faced with the challenge of overflow of the waterfrons due to the effects of these abandoned ships. Lagos is one of the most hit by this ugly trend as well as seaport cities like Warri, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Bonny and Onne. Several lives, property and means of livelihood of the people are continuously threatened. It was probably in reaction to this

Ship wreck

Removing abandoned ships to enhance maritime safety, security The presence of abandoned ships and other wrecks on Nigeria’s waterfronts, apart from constituting a threat to safe navigation also may provide a safe haven for criminals. FRANCIS EZEM reports. imminent danger that the Ilado/Ilashe communities in Ojo area of Lagos State protested against the non-removal of the wrecked ships that were washed ashore in their areas since 2009. Former director in charge of maritime safety and security at the defunct National Maritime Authority, Captain Cosmos Niagwan, in a recent interview, noted that moves by the government to rid the nation’s waters of piracy and armed robbery attacks might not yield the expected results because of the presence of these abandoned ships and wrecks. According to Niagwan, who is reputed to have liquidated the Nigerian National Shipping Line on behalf of the Federal Government, these abandoned ships provide a safe haven for pirates and sea robbers, as many of them hide there after their operation. Also, a one –time Nigeria’s permanent representative at the International Maritime Organisation in London, Mr Olu Akinsoji, in a paper he presented to a special panel on Shipwrecks and Coastal Erosion with a focus on the Lagos coastal community, at the 2010 Lagos State Summit on Climate Change, said that more than 77 wrecks are littered around the Lagos coastline alone. He described the ugly phenomenon as a reflection of the indiscipline, poor administration and lack of commitment to international obligations, adding that Lagos is particularly vulnerable to shipwrecks and abandoned vessels because the Lagos coastline is situated west of the entrance of the ports. “There is a cumulative effect whereby sand accumulation by one ship adds to the other, resulting in the incursion of

THERE ARE NO FEWER

120 ABANDONED VESSELS, DERELICT

THAN

SHIPS AND WRECKS LYING ON

NIGERIA’S

WATERS OR BURIED ON THE SEABED,

WHICH MIGHT REQUIRE AS MUCH AS

N120

MILLION TO EVACUATE

water as the wrecked ships are very close to each other. The recurring shipwrecks on the Lagos waters have resulted in the erosion of choice beach lands, including coastal plants like coconut trees on the beaches”, he lamented. Akinsoji also listed consequences of abandoned shipwrecks to include navigational problems between communities and other states; toxic and other dangerous emissions into waterways; erosion, diversion of water flow and community displacement; recession of coastlines; possible loss/submerging of land between the Atlantic Coast and the Lagoon/Creeks; hide-outs and launch platforms for migrants and pirates; as well as diversion of cargo from the country’s waterways. He argued that they have a lot of implications for maritime investment and trade. “Abandoned ships hinder free movement of vessels with the potential to cause ship mishap, thus, leading to loss

of lives, cargoes and multi-billion investments. If continued, it portends unsafe and unsecured maritime routes against the best practice, and the country will definitely so much incur loss in revenue”, he noted. He also aligned himself with the position of Captain Niagwan that shipwrecks and abandoned vessels on the nation’s waters provide hideouts for criminals. For instance, he said, “abandoned vessels have constituted a base for pirates, sea robbers and miscreants to attack legitimate vessel operators and fishing trawlers. This has threatened vessels, maritime trade and investment worth of several billions of dollars. Fishing trawlers have lost huge sums of money to piracy and sea robberies”. Managing Director of Shore Investment Services, Mr Dayo Balogun, who also spoke on the issue, decried the inability of past governments to take proactive measures in dealing with the evacuation of wrecks. He said there was nothing bad if the Lagos State Government can deal with the issue to save lives, property, the environment and the eco-system. “It is unfortunate that Nigeria does not adopt a preventive approach to issues. If nothing urgent is done by the Lagos State Government, it would have negative consequences on the people. Governor Fashola not wait until Lagos is washed off due to tidal pressure”, he warned. There however, seems there is light at the end of the tunnel. This glimmer of hope arises following recent plans by the Lagos State Government to liaise with NIMASA for the removal of these wrecks and abandoned ships.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Maritime

Friday, August 3, 2012

NIMASA acquires five boats, promises hell for oil thieves STORIES: FRANCIS EZEM

s the Federal Government arraigns more oil thieves under the fuel subsidy scam, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said that it will give oil thieves operating in the nation’s water a fight for their lives with the acquisition of five sophisticated speed boats. The agency had, following it inability to acquire and maintain platforms for the patrol of the nation’s water entered into a security agreement with a private firm, Global West Vessel Specialist Nigeria Limited, for the supply and maintenance of platforms, which would be crewed by the Maritime Guard Command, a combination of operatives of the agency, Nigeria Navy and other security organisations. Following the consummation of the contract, a total of five boats were initially deployed on the Private Public Partnership arrangement as provided in the contract. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, last week had after several hitches commenced the trial of chief executives officers of companies allegedly involved in oil subsidy scam at the Federal High Court, Lagos. Some of the six company executives include, Mahmud Tukur, the son of the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Bamanga Tukur and son

L-R: Director, Procurement Department, NIMASA, Mr. Onya Ojiji; Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Apobolemi, during a visit of the committee to the agency.

of former national chairman of PDP, Dr. Ahmadu Ali over their involvement in the monumental fuel scam. Director General of the agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobololemi, who addressed members of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport, said that before now, the agency did not have a single platform on its fleet. According to him, the agency has done a lot before now in terms of performing its statutory regulatory functions of ensuring safety and security on the nation’s territorial waters, but noted that there is still much to be done. “We will do everything humanly possible to stop all forms of illegalities on our maritime domain,

but NIMASA requires the full support and backing of the committee in our efforts to achieve this goal”, he pleaded with the visiting legislators. “In the past, we have enjoyed the support of this committee and we would like you to support us in this new war against all forms of illegalities on our waters and we will stop at nothing in doing just that”, he further assured. The NIMASA-boss had during a recent seminar for judges held in Lagos given a vivid picture of how many Nigerians and their foreign accomplices lift refined petroleum products from Port Refinery for instance and turn back to collect subsidy from the government under the guise that the

product was imported. Moves by the agency to curb this menace and other security challenges in the nation’s domain were stalled by the lack of platform to effectively patrol the waters, a development that informed the security contract, which faced a barrage of criticisms, especially the mode and duration of the contract. Under the contract, GWVSNL, will take supply and crew the boats for the policing of the entire stretch of the Nigerian coastline from Lagos to Calabar, Cross River State, with an initial investment of $103,400,000.00 (N16 billion), for 10 years in the first instance, “under a no cure, no pay” arrangement. The NIMASA –boss disclosed that following the deployment of the five boats, piracy activities in the Lagos area were reduced to a barest minimum, thus compelling the pirates to move to the Port Harcourt and Benin Republic areas, which also posed a threat to Nigeria’s shipping business. Most of those fighting us over this strategic concession are those powerful illegal bunkerers, whose businesses have been greatly threatened by the surveillance mounted by this joint patrol team”, he noted. Akpobolemi, who urged Nigerians to give the agency a benefit of the doubt, insisted that the concession agreement was in the best interest of the Nigerian nation and that such would be made manifest in a very short period of time.

Customs insists on 100% physical examination of cargo

he Nigeria Customs Service has said it would continue to subject goods imported through the seaports and land borders to 100 percent physical examination, an indication that over 70 percent of goods to physical examination, an indication that stakeholders’ dream of speedy clearance of cargo through the use of scanning machines may continue to be elusive. Available records show that about 70 percent of containerised imports are subjected to 100 percent physical examination, which implies that the container would be completely off-loaded and the goods physically inspected one after the other, an exercise that takes over five hours for a 40-foot container. The Managing Director of Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited, the service provider in charge of Apapa Ports, Ashaye, Banki and Jibya border stations under the current destination inspection, Mr. Tayo Rabiu had in a chat last year with newsmen hinted that less than 25 percent of

Nigeria’s scanning capacity is utilised, obviously due to the emphasis on physical examination. Experts also believe that the use of scanners apart from facilitating speedy clearance, would also facilitate trade. Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa Area 1 Command, Mallam Adamu Garko, who spoke in Lagos, during the presentation of the command’s revenue for the first half of the year, noted that the selectivity model under the Computerised Risk Management System determines the consignment go through the green, which implies express release, yellow and the red channel, which means physical examination. He noted that it is neither the service nor the importer that determines which consignment goes where depending on the compliance level. He, however, disclosed that there are certain import frauds that cannot be detected by the scanners, arguing that the scanners only scan for homogenous

goods. Cited the example of chemicals, he argued that the scanner would only tell you that the substance is chemical but would not tell you the type or volume of the chemical in question, which are vital information deeded for the assessment of duty payable on the consignments. He also cited the examples of tiles and spare parts under which he said the scanner will tells you that it is spare parts but will not specify whether is new or used or the brand, whether Mercedes, Toyota since some brand of vehicles are of higher value or even whether it is motorcycle spare parts, which should attract a lower duty payment. ‘Because of some of these inadequacies of the scanning machines, which the importer might likely want to cash in on to defraud the government that makes the service insist that some consignment be examined physically whereby the goods would be brought down and physically examined for the avoidance of

doubt”, Garko argued. Meanwhile, the project manager in charge of the Automated System For Customs Data who also spoke on the issue, Mr. M. I. Yusuf accused importers in the country of being dishonest in their declarations, arguing that scanning of goods where perfectly where the integrity level of the importers is high unlike in Nigeria. While admitting that the command does 100 percent physical examination on about 70 percent of imported goods into the port, also argued that there is a limit to which the scanners can go in terms of determining the accurate volume and value of the consignment. The ASYCUDA-boss, who also said that physical examination, is the highest level of the selectivity model, noted that in examining a consignment, the service looks at the value, quantity, quality and even the country of origin of the goods, which go a long way in giving clues as to the real value of the consignment in question.

NRC moves to cushion effects of Third Mainland Bridge closure

trong indications have emerged that Lagosians may now heave a sigh of relief as the Nigerian Railway Corporation introduces rail service to mitigate the sufferings of the people occasioned by the closure of the Third Mainland Bridge, which is currently undergoing rehabilitation. Assistant Director in charge of Public Relations of the corporation, Mr. David Ndakotsu said in fulfillment of its promise to increase frequency of passenger trains in corresponding manner to the increase in passenger volume, NRC has increased the number of its passenger trains within Lagos Metropolis from 12 to 16 daily with effect from last week. According to him, the increase in the number of passenger trains was also in response to the hardship brought on Nigerians by the closure and rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Former Apapa PRO becomes Asst Comptroller of Customs

Nnadi

he Nigeria Customs Service has promoted Mr. Dera Nnadi of the Corporate Support Services Department, Customs headquarters Abuja to the rank of Assistant Comptroller of Customs. This is sequel to the release of the results of the promotion examination and interview recently conducted for deserving officers and men of the service. Nnadi, a former Chief Superintendent of Customs, is the immediate past Public Relations Officer of Apapa Area 1 Command of the service, where he played vital roles in the takeoff of the port concession programme, the introduction of Destination Inspection scheme as well as implementation and sustenance of the programmes before his deployment to the headquarters last year. He had earlier served as the Public Relations Officer in charge of Zone “A” headquarters, Lagos. He has won several awards in the including the Prestigious World Customs Organisations Merit Award for promoting Customs Business Relations as well as the best public relations officer for the year 2012, among several others.

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Capital Market

Friday, August 3, 2012

Dangote Cement violates NSE rules, says stakeholders JOHNSON OKANLAWON

takeholders in the Nigerian capital market have accused Dangote Cement Plc of violating the Nigerian Stock Exchange listing requirements by not having up to 25 per cent of its shares in the public. The Chairman of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is also the President of the council of the Exchange. Speaking to National Mirror yesterday, they noted that the Exchange listing rules states that any company

seeking admission to the Official List must have at least 25 per cent of its shares in public hands. According to the company’s annual report and accounts, Dangote Industries Limited has 94.89 per cent of its share and no other individual shareholder held more than five per cent of the issued share capital of the company as at December 31, 2011. The National Coordinator of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Nwosu, said that the shareholders were not

given ample opportunity to partake fully during the business combination of the company. He urged the NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission to sanction the company and ensure that 25 per cent of its shares are sold to the public. He said, “The Exchange’s policy is compromised and it is not health for the country and that is why both local and foreign investors are not investing on the Exchange. The Managing Director of Trust Yields Investment Limited, Alhaji Yussuff Ra-

H2: Analyst forecasts better earnings in equities JOHNSON OKANLAWON

inancial analyst has forecast better performance in equities segment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the second half of the year. Although the research firm noted that the security challenges in some parts of the country and the attractive yields on fixed income securities occasioned by the Central Bank of Nigeria tight monetary policy stance may adversely impact the market, the Exchange All Share Index has the capacity to achieve a growth rate of 11.58 per cent in the second half of the year. According to the FSDH Securities Limited, the equities market in the half year will be impacted by improved second and third quarters earnings from the quoted companies,

goog full year earnings and corporate benefits and improved liquidity in the market on account of activities of the market makers. Others are the current attractive valuation in the market, macroeconomic stability, proactive measures being put in place by the listing, sales and retention unit of the Exchange, which would help to attract and retain quoted companies’ interest in themarket. The firm added others factors such as the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standard which will engender better disclosure in financial reports and the import substitution strategies of the government will lead to local production, generating employment opportunities and lead to more retention of investible funds within

the local market. Others factors are the genuine commitment of the Federal Government to boost power supply may boost investors confidence in local equities market and the relative stability that expected in the foreign exchange market. The firm noted that the positive factors overweighed the negative factors, therefore ‘we are inclined to revise upward our earlier forecast. We think the Exchange All Share Index has the capacity to achieve a growth rate of 11.58 per cent in the second half of the year.’ “This will lead to a growth rate of 17.77 per cent for the year 2012. Thus our forecast for ASI is 17.77 per cent to end the year 2012 and this will generate ASI of 36,852.84 points,” the research firm said.

sheed, said that the NSE’s rules allowed the company to buy back the shares when the public refuses to partake in the investment. The company investment in subsidiaries mostly lifted its profit after tax to N71.1bn in the half year of 2012, an increase by 24.2 per cent when compared to N57.3bn recorded in the same period of 2011. The result presented to the Exchange yesterday a turnover of N142bn in the review period, from N112.7bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2011.

iberty Holdings, Africa’s third-largest life insurer by market value, posted an expected 43 per cent rise in first-half earnings yesterday and said it was looking for expansion opportunities in the western part of the continent. Liberty, majority owned by South Africa’s Standard Bank, owns 50 per cent on a Nigerian health insurer but wants more exposure to Africa’s

der management in Africa excluding its home country, remained flat at 39 billion rand. African earnings outside South Africa were also stagnant. The company’s earnings per share totalled 632.7 cents in the six months to end-June, compared with 443 cents a year ago as it wrote more premiums and its investment portfolio yielded better returns.

NIBOR QUOTES 1 AUGUST & 2 AUGUST 2012 25.00 24.00 23.00 22.00 21.00 20.00 19.00 18.00 17.00 16.00 15.00 14.00 13.00 12.00 11.00 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00

1-Aug-12

2-Aug-12

Source: Afrinvest

On the financial market outlook for 2012, the firm explained that events in the first half year, has necessitated a review of the equities portfolio strategies. “Following our review and expectations of the financial market in the next one year, we are inclined to review our portfolio structure. We are recommending a portfolio allocation of 25 per cent, 10 per cent, 25 per cent, 15 per cent and 25 per cent in favour of equities, fund placement, treasury bills, mutual funds and bonds, respectively. “Taking into consideration the expected returns from these asset classes, we expect a portfolio return of 16.79 per cent within the next one year, all things being equal. An equity portfolio that invests in our carefully selected stocks, following the fund allocation and abiding by both entry and exit prices, should be able to record a return of 20.33 per cent,” the firm added.

S/Africa’s Liberty H1 profit up, eyes Nigeria, Ghana most populous nation and is also eyeing new oil producer, Ghana. “Africa is definitely worth the effort. Clearly it has its challenges, but we think if you don’t position yourself for the opportunity in Africa, there’s a good chance you’ll miss it,” the Chief Executive Officer, Bruce Hemphill said in a conference call. Liberty, which has operations in 14 African countries, said assets un-

Source: NSE

It flagged last month that earnings would be between 570 and 650 cents per share. Liberty said insurance sales rose 22 per cent to 2.7 billion rand while the asset management business saw 5.4 billion rand of net inflows. Its assets under management grew nearly eight per cent to 484 billion rand the investment portfolio saw a gross return of 6.4 per cent.

Market indicators All-Share Index 23,329.34 points as at August 1 Market capitalisation 7,425trillion as at August 1

Stock Updates GAINERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

CHANGE

% CHANGE

ROYALEX

0.60

0.63

0.03

5.00%

UTC

061

0.64

0.03

4.92%

DANGSUGAR

4.50

4.72

0.22

4.89%

SMURFIT

1.03

1.08

0.05

4.85%

CCNN

4.26

4.46

0.20

4.69%

FORTISMFB

5.50

5.75

0.25

4.55%

MAYBAKER

1.55

1.62

0.07

4.52%

FIDSON

0.70

0.73

0.03

4.29%

TRANSCORP

0.96

1.00

0.04

4.17%

24.00

25.00

1.00

4.17%

CHANGE

% CHANGE -4.94%

LOSERS COMPANY

OPENING

CLOSING

10.73

10.20

-0.53

UPL

4.14

3.94

-0.20

-4.83%

LONGMAN

1.90

1.81

-0.09

-4.74%

IKEJAHOTEL

1.28

1.22

-0.06

-4.69%

NIGERINS

0.53

0.51

-0.02

-3.45%

STERLINBANK

1.16

1.12

-0.04

-3.45%

IBTC

6.85

6.76

-0.09

-1.31%

WAPCO

44.00

43.50

-0.50

-1.14%

UBN

4.22

4.20

-0.02

-0.47%

ZENITHBANK

14.96

14.95

-0.01

-0.07%

Primary Market Auction TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

91-Day

34,888.90

13.85

26-Jul-12

182-Day

83,229.89

16.10

26-Jul-12

364 -Day

50,000.00

9.06

26-Jul-12

Open Market Operations TENOR

AMOUNT (N’mn)

RATE (%)

DATE

62 Days

14,116.00

14.50

2-Jul-12

63 Days

55,629.87

14.50

2-Aug-12

Wholesale Dutch Auction System AMOUNT OFFERED

MARKET DEMAND

AMOUNT SOLD

DATE

$250m

N/A

$250m

1-Aug-12

$200m

N/A

$200m

30-Jul-12

Capital Market

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Stock exchange daily equities summary Equities as at August 2, 2012 1st Tier Securities Sector

Company name

1st Tier Securities No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Sector

Company name

No Of Deals

Quotation(N)

Quantity Traded

Value of Shares(N)

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Community Mirror “Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and food security is a fundamental human right. ” BORNO STATE GOVERNOR, KASHIM SHETTIMA

Private-public initiative important for maritime safety –Experts FRANCIS SUBERU

he founder, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has called on the Federal Government to embrace public-private security initiatives in combating monumental crime and theft of the nation’s wealth in the maritime industry. He said this last week at a oneday seminar held at the Certified Institute of Shipping Complex, Magbon Bust Stop, Badagry Expressway, Lagos. The seminar entitled, “Relevance of Private Sector Participation in Maritime Security” was organised by Maritime Reporters Congress of Nigeria; MARCON. Aniebonam who was represented by Mr. Fred Akhokia, said maritime security is capital intensive and because of limited resources of the government and the everincreasing responsibilities of the government, the need for private participation is very appropriate at this time According to him; “maritime insecurity is driven by criminal motivation and it assumes a more worrisome dimension in Nigeria

because of high unemployment, deprivation, corruption, poverty, greed and small arms proliferation. All these pose monumental challenges to maritime security, hence the need for private partnership and support. The NAGAFF founder said, though both NIMASA and Nigerian Navy were set up to confront security challenges and many other problems in the maritime industry; the agencies are hampered by issues like inadequate funding, lack of equipment, manpower shortage among others. He said taking a cue from the resent pronouncement of the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala; urgent steps must be taken to ensure safety in the maritime industry as the country is losing lots of revenue to porous security. “The Minister of Finance who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, at a dialogue with the Organised Private Sector in Lagos, said that Nigeria loses about $5m, (N800m) every day to oil theft. This has placed a serious burden on the country to take urgent steps to arrest the trend,” Aniebonam said. While delivering the seminar lecture, Rector, Certified Institute of Shipping, Rev. Dr. Okwuashi Favour Alex, said maritime de-

fence is necessary for a country to protect its resources and infrastructure within its environment, adding that national security presupposes a minimum of physical security from external, internal and natural causes. He said: “The threat to Nigeria maritime environment manifest in form of attacks on ships and marine facilities through sea robbery, piracy, oil theft and illegal bunkering; poaching, smuggling,

ADO EKITI

member of House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, has empowered the widow of former Chairman of Ekiti State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Chris Fajemifo, with N1million. Bamidele said the gesture was to alleviate part of the financial burden the family of the departed journalist might be going through. The lawmaker’s media aide, Mr Ahmed Salami, who made the presentation on his behalf in Akure, the Ondo State capital, said the deceased was a friend and a close associate of the lawmaker back in their unionism days at the Obafemi Awolowo

University, Ile-Ife. Fajemifo, a veteran journalist, died in a motor accident in Akure on June 12, on his way home from work. Also, the lawmaker representing Ado-Ekiti/Irepodun Federal Constituency at the National Assembly donated 7,200 textbooks worth N15million to 52 public schools in the Ekiti Central Senatorial District. At the programme, which was part of activities marking his 49th birthday and Second MOB Empowerment and Support Programme, he said he expanded the scope of beneficiaries beyond his constituency to compensate people of Efon/Ijero / Ekiti West Federal Constituency for their support during his senatorial aspiration.

ture by saying that maritime security is multidimensional and requires interagency collaboration and private-public partnership. “Due to the global nature of maritime security, the role of private security initiative cannot be overemphasized. There has been greater and successful use of private securities in every facet of human endeavours and I believe it will work effectively in the maritime sector,” he said.

Some youths with wheelbarrows waiting for customers at Oke-Odo market, Lagos.

Lawmaker empowers widow, schools ABIODUN NEJO

proliferation of small arms, waste dumping, oil production, pipeline vandalism, kidnapping, maritime terrorism and other forms of violent misconducts which are mostly directed at economic activities and persons. “It should be noted that robbery and piracy menace have reached 102 cases with loss of 80 lives and more than $1.8 billion in the past three years.” Okwuashi concluded the lec-

Bamidele also lamented the increasing rate at which indigenes of the state fail to gain admission to study core and strategic courses in Nigerian universities, saying the trend could increase unemployment if not tackled. Though the quest for university education among Ekiti indigenes had not dwindled compared to past experiences, he bemoaned the low level of admission in professional courses like medicine, law and engineering. The principals of Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School, Mrs Fasanmi Dada and Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Mrs Rolake Fagbenro, commended the lawamaker, urging the students to avail themselves of the opportunity provided.

PHOTO: OLUWASEGUN IJABIKEN

Kingship tussle turns violent in Kogi ADEMU IDAKWO LOKOJA

iolence has broken out in Lokoja as hundreds of youths took to the streets to protest alleged attempt to install an unpopular aspirant as the Ohimege -igu of Koton Karfi in Kogi Local Government Area of the state. The youths who were in company of some elders had stormed the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, chanting war songs. Following the inability of the king makers to resolve the issue as to who is to be the new paramount ruler in the area, the state government has decided to set up a committee to look into the crisis with a view to resolving the matter.

The committee, headed by the state Head of Service, Dr. Moses Atakpa and which is yet to commence sitting has already been accused of favouring a particular candidate of the government. Since the demise of late Ohimege-Igu, Alhaji Shaibu Manman Lafia, the battle for succession has turned the once peaceful community to a near war zone, as various opposing camps are emerging on daily basis. Before now, the king ship stool was said to be the turn of the Odaki ruling house which also has two contenders. One of the aspirants, Hon. Saidu Salihu Akawu, a member of the state House of Assembly, was allegedly said to have been nominated by the king makers through election of which the opposing camp is resisting.

Friday, August 3, 2012

World News Obama authorised secret support for Syrian rebels

WORLD BULLETIN US Congress approves lifeline for African clothing The U.S. Congress voted yesterday to renew a trade measure supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in Africa’s clothing sector, just two months before the measure expires, Reuters has reported. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the legislation on a voice vote, sending it to President Barack Obama to sign into law. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), first passed by Congress in 2000, allows eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ship thousands of goods to the United States without paying import duties. A provision that expires September 30 waives duties on clothing from most AGOA countries, even if the yarn or fabric is made in a “third country” such as China, South Korea or Vietnam.

Clinton arrives in Uganda, visits S’Sudan today U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived yesterday in Uganda for the second stop of a seven-nation African tour where she will hold security talks with those countries’ leaders. Clinton left Dakar, Senegal, yesterday for the Ugandan capital of Kampala, where officials are dealing with an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda’s remote west that has killed 16 people and infected 20 more. The U.S. has sent a small number of Special Forces troops to help African militaries combat the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army of Joseph Kony in Uganda.

Judge detains Mubarak’s sons in new case A judge in Egypt investigating corruption charges against former Hosni Mubarak premier Ahmed Shafiq yesterday ordered Mubarak’s two sons detained for allegedly buying land from Shafiq at below market price, state media reported. Alaa and Gamal Mubarak are already in detention on other corruption-related charges. Shafiq, who lost to the Islamist Mohamed Morsi in June’s presidential election, is under investigation for allegedly selling the land to the sons of the fallen dictator. The judge did not order the detention of Shafiq, who flew to the United Arab Emirates shortly after he lost the election, prompting speculation that he was fleeing the country. His spokesman has said he will return.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

“Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program. This must change, and it must change quickly” – Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu

Syria crisis: Annan resigns as UN-Arab League envoy PAUL ARHEWE

WITH AGENCY REPORTS

he UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria, Kofi Annan has announced he is leaving his post. In a news conference, he said the Syrian people “desperately need action” but criticised the UN Security Council for “finger pointing and name calling”. Annan authored a six-point peace plan for Syria which was intended to bring an end to the fighting. But the plan was never fully adhered to by either side and the violence has continued to escalate. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was “with deep regret” that he announced Annan would not renew his mandate when it expires at the end of August. Syrian state television reported that the foreign ministry had also expressed regret at the announcement. White House spokesman Jay Carney blamed Russia and China’s refusal to back UN resolutions on Syria for Mr. Annan’s departure. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, Mr Annan said the increasing militarisation of the Syrian conflict and the “clear lack of unity”

in the Security Council had “fundamentally changed the circumstances for the effective exercise of my role”. He said the problems were “compounded by the disunity of the international community”. “When the Syrian people desperately need action, there continues to be finger pointing and name calling in the Security Council,” he said. “It is impossible for me or anyone to compel the Syrian government, and also the opposition, to take the steps to bring about the political process. “Syria can still be saved from the worst calamity - if the international community can show the courage and leadership necessary to compromise on their partial interests for the sake of the Syrian people - for the men, women and children who have already suffered far too much.” The veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council have failed to agree on what action to take on Syria. Russia and China have vetoed resolutions on the crisis three times, citing opposition to any action which might be seen as regime change imposed from outside. Annan said he did not rule out someone taking over the media-

Kofi Annan, speaking during a press briefing, at the European headquarters of the UN, in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. PHOTO: AP

tor’s role from him, but said a successor might choose another path. He said the focus remained on political transition, as President Bashar al-Assad “will have to leave sooner or later”. In his statement, Ban said he was in discussion with the Arab League to find a successor to “carry on this crucial peacemaking

effort”. He said Annan deserved “profound admiration” for the way he had tackled “this most difficult and potentially thankless of assignments” and that he remained convinced bloodshed would only bring “deeper suffering to the country and greater peril to the region”.

Egyptian President Mursi swears in cabinet

gypt’s new cabinet has been sworn in by newlyelected President Mohammed Mursi at a ceremony in Cairo. The ministers were selected by Prime Minister-designate Hisham Qandil, who earlier called for Egyptians to rally behind “a people’s government.” Only four ministers from President Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood were given posts. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who ruled Egypt after Hosni Mubarak stepped down, remains as defence minister. The military retains broad powers, including legislative authority. President Mursi has been criticised for the time he has taken to name a prime minister and form a government. He promised an inclusive gov-

ernment, with women and Christians represented. The cabinet line-up includes only two women - one of them is a Christian. His nomination of Mr Qandil, the outgoing water resources minister, surprised many observers, who had been expecting a well-known figure. Speaking at a news conference in Cairo ahead of the ceremony, Mr Qandil appealed for Egyptians to pull together to support the new government. “I call on all Egyptians to rally behind our elected president and to work with the government to achieve all of our goals. “We have to stop asking who is a Copt, a Muslim or a Salafi. I don’t see that. All I see is that we are all Egyptians and this should be the main principle.” Mr Qandil will hold a meeting

with members of his government on Saturday to discuss the next steps on seeking an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, he said, according to the Reuters news agency. Seven ministers will remain from the outgoing militaryappointed cabinet - including Mumtaz al-Said, who will serve as finance minister, and Mohammed Kamal Amr, who stays on as foreign minister. The new government will have its work cut out. Egypt’s economy is floundering and many Egyptians say they’ve seen little improvement in their day-to-day lives. President Mursi has listed his main priorities as security, fuel, rubbish, bread and traffic. Former prime minister Kamal Ganzouri becomes a presidential adviser.

Mursi

PHOTO: REUTERS

The re-appointment of Field Marshal Tantawi, head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), is in line with an interim constitutional declaration issued after June’s presidential election run-off.

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

World News

Friday, August 3, 2012

Obama authorised secret support for Syrian rebels

resident Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government, sources familiar with the matter said. Obama’s order, approved earlier this year and known as an intelligence “finding,” broadly permits the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels oust Assad. This and other developments signal a shift toward growing, albeit still circumscribed, support for Assad’s armed opponents - a shift that intensified following last month’s failure of the U.N. Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against the Damascus government. The White House is for now apparently stopping short of giving the rebels lethal weapons, even as some U.S. allies do just that. But U.S. and European officials have said that there have been noticeable improvements in the coherence and effectiveness of Syrian rebel groups in the past few weeks. That represents a significant change in assessments of the rebels by Western officials, who previously characterized Assad’s opponents as a disorganized, almost chaotic, rabble. Precisely when Obama signed the secret intelligence authorization, an action not previously reported, could not be

Chinese teenager kills eight in knife attack

teenager has killed eight people and wounded five others in a knife attack in China’s Liaoning province, state media says. The attack happened late on Wednesday in Yongling township, a Xinhua report said. Those killed included two relatives of the suspect’s girlfriend and six other people, the report said. The injured were receiving treatment, it added. The suspect was detained by police at the scene. State media said the 17-yearold killed two of his girlfriend’s relatives “after having conflicts” with his girlfriend. He killed the other six people “while fleeing the scene”, it said. No other details were immediately available. Violent crime has been in the spotlight in China since a string of incidents in 2010 involving lone individuals targeting children in apparently random attacks.

determined. The full extent of clandestine support that agencies like the CIA might be providing also is unclear. White House spokesman Tommy Vietor declined comment. A U.S. government source acknowledged that under provisions of the presidential finding, the United States was collaborating with a secret command center operated by Turkey and its allies. Last week, Reuters reported

that, along with Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Turkey had established a secret base near the Syrian border to help direct vital military and communications support to Assad’s opponents. This “nerve center” is in Adana, a city in southern Turkey about 60 miles from the Syrian border, which is also home to Incirlik, a U.S. air base where U.S. military and intelligence agencies maintain a substantial presence. Turkey’s moderate Islamist government has been demand-

ing Assad’s departure with growing vehemence. Turkish authorities are said by current and former U.S. government officials to be increasingly involved in providing Syrian rebels with training and possibly equipment. European government sources said wealthy families in Saudi Arabia and Qatar were providing significant financing to the rebels. Senior officials of the Saudi and Qatari governments have publicly called for Assad’s departure.

WORLD BULLETIN UK’s sex ring gang leader jailed 22 years The jailed leader of a Rochdale sex ring has received a further term of 22 years for 30 child rape charges. Shabir Ahmed, 59, of Oldham, was one of nine men convicted of sex offences against children at Liverpool Crown Court in May. He was not named at the time because he faced further charges, but was jailed for 19 years. Ahmed was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in June of raping and sexually abusing a girl for more than a decade. His sentence will run concurrently with the earlier one. Judge Mushtaq Khokhar was forced to have Ahmed removed from the dock before passing sentence because he was persistently interrupted by the defendant. Before his ejection, Ahmed shouted: “It’s all lies. It’s all concocted by the police.”

Five dead as tropical storm washes over Taiwan

A Free Syrian Army member aiming his weapon after hearing shooting in Aleppo recently.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Spain arrests three Al-Qaeda suspects

panish police have arrested three suspected al-Qaeda members in a southern city of the European country. Explosive material was seized at an address in San Roque where a Turkish man was arrested. Two other men were held near Almuradiel. They are thought to have been planning an attack in Spain or elsewhere in Europe, according to the Spanish Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz. The arrests are part of one the biggest international operations to date against al-Qaeda, Diaz said. The material is currently being tested but is thought to be enough to “destroy a bus”, he told reporters. Diaz also said one of the sus-

pects was a senior al-Qaeda operative with extensive experience “in the manufacture of poison and car bombs”. One of the men put up “massive resistance” during the arrests, he added. None of them have been named. Police found the explosives in a flat in the southern town of La Linea de Concepcion in Andalusia and arrested a Turkish national at the address. The two other suspects were travelling on a bus from Cadiz on Spain’s Atlantic coast to Irun near the French border when they were seized in a lay-by near Almuradiel by a police special operations group, Diaz said. Both men are from former Soviet republics, but the minister

The arrests were made as part of one of the largest international operations to date against al-Qaeda PHOTO: BBC

did not say which ones. The pair were carrying documents about piloting light planes, he said. He described it as “one of the biggest terrorism investigations ever” with “international ramifications”. Intelligence services from “Spain’s allies” were involved, he added. Police suspect that at least one suspect has attended training camps in Pakistan, reports say. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula had issued a message at the beginning of July looking for Spanish-speaking “lone wolves” as operatives, according to Spain’s El Pais newspaper. In March, Spanish police arrested a suspected al-Qaeda member in the eastern city of Valencia on terrorism charges. They said he ran one of the world’s most important jihadist forums dedicated to online recruitment and propaganda operations. The man, a Jordanian-born Saudi Arabian citizen, was known within al-Qaeda as “the librarian”, Diaz told reporters at the time. In March 2004, an alQaeda linked bomb attack on four packed commuter trains in Madrid killed 191 people and injured 1,841 others.

Tropical Storm Saola, previously a typhoon, has killed at least five people and injured 15 others as it triggered landslides and flooding across Taiwan. The storm caused nearly the entire island to close down, as official said torrential rains could linger until next week, Al Jazeera has reported. The typhoon arrived in Taiwan early yesterday, a day after the storm killed 23 people and forced 154,000 from their homes in the Philippines. The Taiwanese military helped more than 1,000 people flee from the remote mountainous north and east of the island. The National Fire Agency reported five deaths, including a policeman who drowned in a swollen river. Two people were missing. More than 100 domestic and international flights were cancelled, train services disrupted and roads closed.

Afghan finance minister faces corruption probe Afghanistan’s finance minister will be investigated after large amounts of money were found to have been deposited into his bank account and transferred abroad, the nation’s anti-corruption chief said yesterday. The minister, Omar Zakhilwal, denies any wrongdoing. The allegations were first aired by Afghanistan’s independent Tolo television channel, which broadcast what it said were copies of his bank statements showing that more than $1 million had been deposited between 2007 and 2011. Tolo said most of the money was transferred to accounts abroad, including $100,000 to a bank in Canada to buy a house. Tolo quoted Zakhilwal as saying in an interview that he had numerous sources of income, including consultancies. “Before I came back to Afghanistan, I was a lecturer of economics in Canada and (as a consultant) I had good sources of income too because of $1,500 per day,” Tolo quoted Zakhilwal as saying.

World News

Friday, August 3, 2012

Three planes in near collision at US airport

S air safety regulators are investigating how three planes narrowly avoided a midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, BBC has reported.

Advert space for sell

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said bad weather and a switch of the landing runway led to a miscommunication on Tuesday afternoon. The incident was first reported by the Washing-

ton Post, which said all three planes were operated by US Airways. Officials vowed “appropriate action to address the miscommunication”. During a conference call with reporters on Thurs-

day, FAA administrator Michael Huerta acknowledged the planes had been too close, but said they were not on a collision course. An audio recording of discussions between the landing plane and the air-

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

port’s traffic control tower shows the confusion. At about 14:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the air control tower ordered the landing plane to make an abrupt turn to the south.

“We were clear at the river back there,” a person in the plane’s cockpit says to the control tower. “What happened?” The tower answers: “We’re trying to figure this out, too. Stand by.”

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Prof.Felix Okeke-Ezigbo

ate Felix Okeke-Ezigbo, Professor of English and Affiliated Professor of African and Afro-American studies at the University of Rhode Island, died in Providence USA, on June 25, 2012 at the age of 67 years. Felix did his undergraduate work in English, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated

Magna Cum Laude and earned his Ph.D. in English at the State University of New York, Buffalo. After a brief stint at the University of WisconsinMadison, he moved to upstate New York and received his Ph.D. in English from SUNY, Buffalo in 1979. He began his teaching career as a lecturer at the University of Benin, Nigeria and received several promotions. He attained the rank of Associate Professor, served as Director of General Studies, and was finally made Chair of the English Department in 1990. He then held an appointment as Visiting Professor of African and African American Literature at the University of Arizona in Tempe. From there, he came in 1994 to URI where he had been appointed Associate Professor. He was promoted to full Professor the following year and had served ever since with distinction. At URI, Okeke-Ezigbo was a very popular professor and his classes were widely sought out. He regularly taught courses on African and African American literature, as well as classes on the Bible as Literature, and the Epic. Those in Swan Hall regularly saw a line of students eager to continue discussions with him outside of class. In addition, Felix was a widely published and respected scholar.

Chief Victoria Olawunmi Osinubi

he burial programme of Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Olawunmi Osinubi has been announced. She died on June 11, 2012 at the age of 91. A Commendation Service will take place on Wednesday, August 15, at Methodist Church Nigeria, Fakorede Street, Shomolu, Lagos, at 10am. On the same day, a Service of Songs will hold between 5pm and 7pm at Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Sabo, Yaba. On Friday, August 17 at Methodist Primary School, Imososi, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, a Christian Wake will hold between 5pm and 7pm while the funeral service and interment will take place on August 18 at Methodist Cathedral, Imere, Ago-Iwoye at 10am. A reception for guests will be held on the grounds of Methodist Primary School, Imososi, Ago-Iwoye, immediately after the internment. The late Mrs. Osinubi is survived by Mrs. Oluyemisi Jaiyeola; Dr. Abiodun Osinubi; Mr. Olusegun Osinubi; Dr. Titilola Benedict; Mr. Ademola Osinubi; Mrs. Oladunni Taiwo and Mrs. Anuoluwapo Odumosu.

Ashimi Tirimisiyu

TRANSITION

Friday, August 3, 2012

he Nigerian Conservation Foundation NCF, are still mourning the death of their colleague, Mr. Ashimi Tirimisiyu who was gruesomely murdered on July 26, 2012 in Jalingo, Taraba State. Mr. Ashimi, 46, was reportedly shot at close range by gunmen at a place where he went to break his Ramadan fast. The deceased was one of the longest serving Staff of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. He contributed in no small ways to issues of Forest Management in Ni-

Daniel Othihiwa

he body of the late Chief Librarian, Mr. Daniel Friday Othihiwa will be laid to rest on Saturday, August 4, 2012 at Ivrudu Quarters, Owodokpokpo, Igbide Clan, Isoko South LGA of Delta State. A statement by Sir Odafe Othihiwa, former General Manager of AIT and Daily Times, said the burial would be preceded by a funeral service at St. John’s Anglican Church, Owodokpokpo before interment at Ivrudu Quarters. Aged 75, Othihiwa died on July 2, 2012 after a brief illness. Daniel Othihiwa was a onetime National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Library Association and was a Consultant Chief Librarian, Educationist; Lay Reader, Publisher, Industrialist, Teacher and Chief Lecturer. He was also a special member of the Bible Society and Scripture Union of Nigeria, and a fellow of Diocesan Lay Reader Association of the Diocese of Ika. He is survived by wife Esther Emetena Othihiwa. His children include Hezekiah Othihiwa, Mrs Christie Taiwo (nee Othihiwa), Taiye Othihiwa, Benson Othihiwa, Mrs Edith Ededhe (nee Othihiwa), brothers, sisters, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Daniel Nelson Isichei

T geria since 1994 when he joined the Foundation. He was a trained nature interpreter and an expert in biodiversity assessment and monitoring and community outreach. Until his demise, he was the project manager for Participatory Forest Management PFM, a project being implemented by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in Taraba State with the support of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). He was responsible for promoting partnership and collaborative arrangements for protected areas and biodiversity management in the State. Mr. Ashimi was at one time a Field Officer of the Participatory Sustainable Management of Renewable Natural Resources in Nigeria at the NCF/DFID Buru Site Project in Taraba State where he assisted in coordinating the livelihood and community participation aspect of the project. He was the brain behind the formation of the Natural Resources User groups and production of full project brief in collaboration with community members and the Government in Taraba State. A Field Conservation Officer to the core, Mr. Ashimi facilitated the establishment and training of Forest Volunteer Guards for Direct Protection of the protected Area in Buru Site. He participated actively in a survey of Chimpanzee of Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria in May 2007.

he Isichei family of Anidinma Close, Onicha Ukwu Quarters in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State has lost one of her illustrious sons, Pa Nelson Ikpeamanam Isichei, who passed on recently at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. He was 75 years old. Late Nelson was born on October 23, 1937 and before his death from complications arising from lymphoma, he was a community leader in his native Idumuje, Ugboko as well as Asaba, where he lived until his demise. He was known to have contributed his quota in the welfare of his people. His dire belief in education saw him availing many scholarships to indigent students in his community, as this also propelled him to give his children sound education in local and international schools. One of his sons, Jerry Isichei, is a renowned Nollywood personality is brain behind several Nollywood films. He is also the producer and director of ‘Footprints’, a television soap opera currently showing in Nigeria, Ghana and United Kingdom

North

Friday, August 3, 2012

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Nasarawa awards N1.21bn road contracts in Lafia, Akwanga

asarawa State Government has awarded contracts valued at N1.21bn for the construction of 17km urban roads in Lafia and Akwanga. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Victoria Monde, disclosed this at a news conference in Lafia yesterday. Mrs. Monde said a total of 13km of roads would be constructed in Lafia, while 3.8km would be constructed in Akwanga. She said the roads to be constructed were the 3.5km UAC – Gona Malam Sarki Road and the 9.5km Gona Malam Sarki – Kwandere – College of Agriculture Road awarded to TRIACTA Construction Company at

the cost of N571m. At Akwanga, the commissioner said the roads billed for construction by ENL Construction Company were the 1.14km Wamba by-pass – KassimIdris Street; the 2.63km Diamond Bank – GRA - Jos Road as well as the rehabilitation of a culvert at Shepherd School Road, all valued at N638.4m. She said the contractors were selected based on their past performances and availability of equipment as well as personnel following a competitive bidding. Mrs. Monde said that L-R: Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Chairman, Kwara Holdings Company, KHC, Prof. Haliru Abubakar and Group the contracts for the roads Managing Director/CEO. Mr. Yusuf Abdulwahab, after the inauguration of the KHC Board in Ilorin, yesterday. were in line with Governor Umaru Al-Makura’s urban development programme.

Niger plans law to prohibit street begging PRISCILLA DENNIS MINNA

isturbed by the huge number of beggars roaming the streets of Niger State, the administration of Governor Babangida Aliyu said it would soon send a bill to prohibit street begging to the state House of Assembly. The Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Adamu, made the disclosure during a briefing in Minna after the State Executive Council meeting. She said her ministry had already sent the bill to the state Law Reform Commission to look into it, after which, a public hearing would be held on it. The commissioner explained that presently, 90 per cent of those engaged in street begging in the state were from neighbouring states in the North. According to her, once the law prohibiting street begging becomes operational, the ministry would

Gov. Aliyu

set up a mobile court that would arrest and punish offenders at once. She said: “Street begging is a problem in the North and Niger is no exception. The state government has put in place skill acquisition facilities in Bida, Ibeto and Kontagora, where these categories of people, especially the blind, will be thought a trade in order to help themselves and their families. And if they refuse to learn, the state will be forced to send them back to their states of origin, since many of them are not from this state.”

Keffi auto crash claims lecturer, eight students, others A lecturer and eight part-time students of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, were among 16 people who died in an accident on Nasarawa – Toto - Keffi Expressway in Nasarawa State. The Keffi Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC

LOKOJA

ntending Christian pilgrims in Kogi State have accused the State Pilgrims Welfare Board of refusing to adequately prepare them for the pilgrimage to Israel a few weeks to their take off. The intending pilgrims seen at the premises of the board in Lokoja told journalists that the Executive Secretary of the State Pilgrims Board, Mr. Sunday Aiyeto, had been giving one excuse or the other, thereby dodging the take off activities. One of the aggrieved intending pilgrims, Mr. Rotimi Fashanu, told journalists an interview that

salon car with registration number BEN 950 AH. Yilzoom said the accident occurred about 2.15 p.m. at Dadin Kowa village, about five kilometres from Keffi. He added that 14 of the passengers died before they could be taken to the hospital, while two

died the following morning at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi. Yilzoom said the victims were 10 males and six females. He advised motorists to obey traffic rules to safeguard their lives and those of others, stressing that most road accidents are avoidable.

Gunmen attack joint patrol team offices in Gombe • SSS arrests journalist, six others during raid DANJUMA WILLIAMS GOMBE

unmen have attacked two stations of the Joint

Kogi: Intending pilgrims decry poor arrangement ADEMU IDAKWO

Mr. Longzem Yilzoom, told journalists in Keffi that the accident, which occurred last weekend, was caused by reckless driving and overloading. He said the accident was a result of a head-on collision between a Peugeot station wagon with registration number AR 506 JJN and an Audi 80

the board was trying to dodge some of the routine activities such as medical examination and seminar because of alleged shortage of funds. The intending pilgrims said if urgent steps were not taken to check the activities of the management of the board, the public confidence in the pilgrim operation which the government built over the years would be eroded. They also accused the board of refusing to disclose the amount they would pay for the pilgrimage. When our correspondent tried to speak with Aiyeto on the issue, he was said not to be disposed to press interview.

Military and Police Patrol Team in Gombe codenamed Anti-Kalare Squad. Though no life was lost, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Fwaje Atajiri, confirmed the incident. He added that the gunmen launched attack at the office of the Anti-Kalare Squad located at the Eid praying ground about 8:30 pm on Wednesday. Though he could not explain the nature of the other attack at the Tudun Wada/Pantami office of the Anti-Kalare Squad,

the PPRO explained that the attack on Anti-Kalare office located at Eid praying ground resulted in the destruction of the squad’s patrol vehicle. He said: “The gunmen came in a bus around 8:30pm with a GPMG and other sophisticated weapons and started shooting. But our men were able to immediately repel them.” A police source said that the attackers took away an MG rifle and an AK 47 rifle. However, Atajiri urged the public to report any suspicious person in their

midst to the police, while assuring that information given to the police would be treated with confidence. He added that this is necessary because police could not succeed without the full cooperation of the public. Meanwhile, a journalist with the People’s Daily newspaper in Gombe, Auwal Ahmed, who was among seven persons arrested in the wee hours of Wednesday by men of the State Security Service, SSS, during a raid, was still in custody.

I’m not distracted by opposition, says Ahmed

overnor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that his administration was not distracted by the negative comments of the opposition in his resolve to positively transform the lives of the people. The governor said this at the swearing-in of two new special advisers, a commissioner in the state

Civil Service Commission and the inauguration of the Board of Harmony Holdings Limited. He said: “As a responsible administration, we have made the economic empowerment of our people and the prosperity of our state the number one priority.” Ahmed said that within a year, his administration’s shared prosperity

had created massive jobs for the youth, immense physical and social infrastructure, bold agricultural reforms and wealth creation. He therefore urged the new commissioners and board members to internalise and imbibe the tenets of the programme and make valuable contributions to its effective implementation.

Friday, August 3, 2012

merican multiple medal winner, Michael Phelps, got one back late yesterday. After losing to Ryan Lochte in their head-tohead battle in the 400 individual medley, Phelps roared back to edge his rival in the shorter 200 IM, giving the US a gold and silver finish in the event. Phelps just missed breaking his Olympic record in the event by four-hundredths of a second, but had enough in the tank to maintain the lead throughout the race and hold Lochte off in the final meters, taking gold in 1:54.27 while Lochte came in at 1:54.90, after taking bronze in the 200-meter backstroke 31 minutes earlier. The race looked very similar to the gold that Phelps won in Beijing in 2008, as he took command quickly and never faded. Both took podium spots in 2008–gold and bronze respectively–in a race that saw Phelps set the world record in the event. Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh took the silver in 2008 and bronze yesterday.

XXXTH OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES

London 2012

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI REPORTING

July 27 - August 12, 2012

First Bank Day holds Sunday

irst Bank Nigeria Plc will hold its day att the ongoing London 2012 Olympic Gamess on Sunday. Activities marking the day will be held in-side the Nigeria pavilion at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (AN-OCA) African Village located at the Kessing-ton Gardens, South Kessington, London. First Bank is a major partner of the Nigeria a Olympic Committee (NOC) and Official Bank-er of the Team Nigeria to this 30th Olympiad. Its day is scheduled to coincide with the end d of the athletics track and field events that be-gin on today. The African global bank has Athletics Am-bassador in Team Nigeria’s top sprinter, Bless-ing Okagbare, who is tipped to win medals thiss weekend. According to Head of Marketing and Corpo-rate Communications of the bank, Mrs. Folake e Ani-Mumuney, Sunday’s activities will include e a meeting of its customers in London and oth-er Olympic participants with Okagbare. The bank will fete its visitors, give away T-shirts, pens and hold an instant raffle draw forr the guests to win other prizes.

My athletes fit as fiddle–Egbunike

oach of the Nigerian athletics team, Innocent Egbunike, has basked on the fitness of his athletes as they gear up action today. Egbunike, a quarter-miler of international repute during his heyday, says he is not under pressure because Team Nigeria is yet to win any medal. “There is absolutely no pressure on me or the team. We are concerned about our events and we are doing everything to do well. I am happy that all the athletes are fit. My prayer is that their fitness sustain them to the medals,” the man who was described as “not Innocent” by former President of Kenya, Arap Moi, sequel to his amazing 400m race that displaced a Kenyan at the All Africa Games in 1998, said. A former captain of Team Nigeria and long jumper of repute, Yusuf Ali, has however predicted that the athletes would win four medals at the London Games.

“My position has not changed,” Alii insisted. Asked to further predict the type of medal, Ali said: “I don’t know, but I know that we will win up to four med-als. Winning gold goes with luck. Butt don’t rule that out. Once we get to thatt level, anything can happen.”

Egbunike

- FORMER SOUTH AFRICA DEFENDER, AARON MOKOENA

Okagbare, others raise Nigeria’s hope N

igerians will be waiting with bated breaths as the Track and Field events take centre stage today in London at the Olympic Stadium in Olympic Park, Stratford which has an 80, 000 seating capacity. Tales of woe have trailed Nigeria’s performance at the tournament which is considered to be the biggest sporting event in the world as the country’s representatives in various sports have been unable to hold their own against the best from different parts of the globe. As such, the burden has been transferred to the athletes who will hope to give their compatriots something to cheer about as was reminiscent of the days of Chioma Ajunwa, Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya, Innocent Egbunike and the late Sunday Bada. Blessing Okagbare and Gloria Asumnu will feature in the women’s 100m later this afternoon. Nigeria’s hopes are tied to Beijing bronze medallist in the long jump, Okagbare, who has been tipped as the favourite to win medals in both the sprint and long jump despite the fact that she is combining both events for the first time in the Olympics. Okagbare has enjoyed double success in the run to the Olympics, winning two legs of the Samsung Diamond League in London and Monaco and leaving reigning Olympics champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and world champion, Carmelita Jeter in her wake. She would run the heats today and is expected to make it to the final tomorrow. Morton Amaechi will also be on action today in Lane 5 in the first of six heats and is coming to the Olympics as the reigning NCAA, Nigerian and African champion in the 400m hurdles, as well as one of the top 10 in his category (48.79). He will, however, be engaged in a difficult battle against the likes of reigning champion, Angelo Taylor (48.43) and Javier Culson (47.78) Omolara Omotosho and Regina George will be in action in the preliminary rounds of the women’s 400m and will run in heats three and seven respectively. The duo would also compete in the 4x400m relay later in the tournament. It would be expected that the man tipped to break Yusuf Alli’s national record (8.27m), Stanley Gbagbeke, would have a good outing during the qualifying rounds today. The long jumper has not been consistent despite making an impressive leap of 8.20m in Calabar.

Sport

Whether Bafana Bafana will return to the top? There is no doubt that they will, soon

Tennis: Djokovic, Murray clash in semi

Phelps roars to gold

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Friday, August 3, 2012

XXXTH OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES

London 2012

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI REPORTING

July 27 - August 12, 2012

Athletics will wipe our tears–Uti

Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (inset) wants joy as this to pervade Nigeria’s action on the tracks from today

D-day: Abdullahi reads riot act A s the zero hour approaches for today’s athletics events and signs of moral laxity feared in Team Nigeria’s camp, Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has warned the athletes against indiscipline. The Minister, who addressed the athletes yesterday, charged them to be of good behavior as success could be achieved only through discipline. “We don’t want you to lose but if you must lose, it must not be to other factors outside the pitch–like staying out late at night,” he said at a meeting

attended by the NOC President, Engineer Sani Ndanusa and NSC Director General, Chief Patrick Ekeji, and other top officials. “No country can succeed with bad attitude. We are here because of Nigeria. If we take pride in our country, it comes first and we should learn to make sacrifices. I saw 15-year-olds, 19-year-olds defy impossibilities and made sacrifices as teenagers. “This is first about you. People still remember Nojeem Maiyegun who won the first Olympic bronze medal for the

country in 1964. We remember him but none of you can remember who was minister of sports in 1964. I was not born then, but we remember Maiyegun because of what he achieved.” Responding, Team Nigeria captain, Chika Chukwumerije, assured that Nigeria would get things right soonest. “We must believe in our hearts what we want to achieve. By August 12, Team Nigeria will have a lot to cheer about,” the Beijing Olympics bronze medalist said.

ormer 400m star, Sunday Uti, has teamed with Nigeria Coach, Innocent Egbunike, and other coaches to boost the country’s athletes as track and field events get underway today. Uti is offering his services free as panic gripped Nigeria’s Leader of Delegation, Minister Bolaji Abdullahi and Chef de Mission, Patrick Ekeji and other top officials over Team Nigeria’s unimpressive performances so far. Apparently aware of the worried state of Nigerians, Uti said that the athletic team would make Nigerians happy. “I know that many Nigerians are apprehensive that Team Nigeria has not yet gotten any medal. Not to worry. The athletic team will bring smile to their faces,” Uti said, adding, “From what I have seen so far, there is hope. There will be light at the end of the tunnel.”

Kenya targets 12 gold

AFN boss, Ogba

Ogba goes silent

head of the beginning of track and field events today inside the Olympic Stadium, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Solomon Ogba, cannot be reached after switching off his phones. There is anxiety in the camp of Team Nigeria as the contingent awaits its first medal at the ongoing London 2012 Olympic Games. Ogba, who has opted to shun journalists and other enquirers, has also banned the athletes from receiving visitors, while restricting their meetings with other officials. “I’ve told them that there should be no meetings with my athletes,” the AFN boss said yesterday in a statement.

hile Team Nigeria is fretting over the track and field events that begin today at the London Olympic Games, Team Kenya is brimming with hopes to win 12 gold and overall 36 medals before the curtain falls on the 30th Olympiad. The East African nation enjoyed their best showing at an Olympics four years ago in Beijing with all of their 16 medals coming on the track, but only six of them were gold. The last nation to win 12 or more gold medals in the track and field competition at an Olympics was the United States, who won 13 on home soil at the 1996 Atlanta Games. “We are ready for this Olympics and we are going for a record medal haul. I have the best team ever in Kenya’s Olympics history,” But Team Kenya coach, Julius Kirwa, told National Mirror. “We are aiming at least 12 gold medals, including the elusive 10, 000m men’s title. As for the overall medal tally, you can multi- Wilson Kiprop

ply that by three,” Kirwa added. Kenya has not won the men’s 10,000m since the Mexico Olympics in 1968 and world bronze medallist, Moses Masai and world leader, Wilson Kiprop, are their best hopes of upsetting Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele’s bid for a third straight gold. Kirwa also expressed confidence that his team captain, world 800m champion, David Rudisha, would better his own world record in London. There are strong Kenyan gold medal hopes in most of the other middle and long distance events, not least Vivian Cheruiyot, who will be bidding to match the 5,000-10, 000m double she achieved at last year’s world championships.

Uti

Medals table Rank Country

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

United States

China

Japan

Germany

France

Russia

Great Britain

South Korea

Australia

Italy

Canada

Netherlands

Ukraine

Romania

North Korea

Hungary

Brazil

Mexico

Kazakhstan

South Africa

New Zealand

National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net

Sport

Friday, August 3, 2012

Hoy lifts GB spirits

ir Chris Hoy claimed his fifth Olympic gold last night as Great Britain’s men’s team sprint squad romped to victory inside the London Velodrome. After witnessing Team GB’s men’s team pursuit quartet set a world record in their qualifying heat, Hoy, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny progressed to the final of the three-man, threelap team sprint in a world record time of 42.747 seconds. The British trio then clocked another world record in a stunning finale, finishing in 42.600secs. In a repeat of the final four years ago in Beijing, France’s Gregory Bauge, Michael D’Almeida and Kevin Sireau had to settle for silver, finishing in 43.013. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry were part of the capacity crowd, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who witnessed Hoy’s historic achievement.

XXXTH OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES

London 2012

EVEREST ONYEWUCHI REPORTING

July 27 - August 12, 2012

Cycling: GB duo relegated

G Badminton: Charged Yu bids sport farewell Yu Yang

ne of the Chinese badminton players involved in the match-throwing scandal at the Olympics, Yu Yang yesterday announced that she will retire from the sport. Yang and her partner Wang Xiaoli were one of four pairs who were disqualified from the Games after attempting to lose a group contest in order to get a more favourable draw for the knockout stages. The 26-year-old Yu, who won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Wang were thrown out of the women’s doubles tournament for “not using one’s best efforts to win a match”. Yu and Wang both apologised to fans and pledged to give their best in future matches, but m

Suarez blasts British fans

ruguay uay striker, Luis Suarez,, has criticised British fans who booed him and his country’s untry’s national anthem during ring Wednesday night’s match in Cardiff. Once the match kicked off, Suarez was treated ed to similar abuse se when he was on the ball, as had happened in n Uruguay’s previous two Olympic matches at Old Trafford afford in Manchester and d Wembley in London. Suarez, who plays his club football ball in England forr Liverpool, insisted isted after the match atch that he was personally used t o s u c h treatment, but that the home crowd’s booing of his nation’s n’s anthem showed “a total lack of respect.” “I think they jeer me and they boo me because they must be scared of facing a player like me. They ey fear me, but that doesn’t affect me. I’m just hurt because we lost and we are going home,” ,” the controversial striker said.

the former has now said that she is quitting badminton. “This is my last time competing. Goodbye Badminton World Federation, goodbye my beloved badminton. You have heartlessly shattered our dreams,” Yu said. The controversy also saw the BWF disqualify two South Korean pairs and one Indonesian team after they responded to Yu and Wang’s antics by also attempting to lose. Their places in the draw were taken by pairs from Russia, Canada, Australia and South Africa, with the Russians set to play second-seeded Chinese duo Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, who the disqualified teams were trying to avoid, in the semi-finals.

reat Britain’s Jess Varnish and Victoria Pendleton have been relegated in the women’s team sprint and will not contest a medal ride, officials have confirmed. The confusing scenes due to an illegal change came after they set a team sprint world record in qualifying, only to see China better the mark moments later in the opening Olympic event at the London 2012 velodrome. The British duo would have been vying for gold but were disqualified in the first round after the commissaires’ decision, so Germany will now take on China for gold while Australia battles Ukraine for bronze. Pendleton was set to resume competition in the keirin today, but for Varnish, who has focused on the starting lap in the event, the Games are over. Boos replaced cheers in the velodrome as it was announced that Britain’s women cycling hopefuls had been disqualified from the team sprint finals.

LOCOG boss, Coe

Tennis: Djokovic, Murray clash in semi

orld number two, Novak Djokovic, yesterday brushed Djok aside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to mouth-watering semi-final set up a mou against home favourite clash ag Andy Murray. Mu Djokovic, who has never lost Djokov Murray in a grand slam, to Murr looked to have the trickiest of the four quarter-finals at

Wimbledon, but he made light work of Tsonga, defeating the Frenchman 6-1 7-5 on Centre Court. The Serb will meet Murray for the first time on grass today after the British number one hammered Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-1. Should Murray beat Djokovic, he will be guaranteed his first Olympic medal. “Am I going to enjoy being the bad

guy? It’s something that is going to be expected,” Djokovic said. “He is the home favourite and someone who carries British tennis, the whole nation. Everyone will be watching on television and hoping he can get through to the finals and win a medal. I will try to focus on every point and my game only. I will have to play my top game to win,” Djokovic added.

Djokovic

WORLD RECORD

Most played trading card game Vol. 02 No. 418

Since making its debut in 1993, the Magic: The Gathering trading card game has spread across the world while growing ever more popular. It is now played in 52 countries and by more than six million players.

Friday, August 3, 2012

The messy Turai – Patience land palaver

ntil the bitter land feud between Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan; and the wife of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Hajiya Turai Umaru Musa Yar’Adua blew open lately, I had resolved not to comment on the activities of First Ladies in the country for personal reasons, chief among which is my belief that virtually all the projects they embark upon while their husbands are in office are, to a great extent, seasonal and cosmetic. Though one had the temptation of commenting on Mrs. Jonathan’s interest in a Permanent Secretary job in Bayelsa State while actively saddled with the huge task of Nigeria’s First Ladyship, I had glossed over it as part of man’s survivalist and self-preservation instincts. Such is common in Nigeria, not just with the Jonathans. I had reasoned, for example, that President Jonathan, out of pressure, might decide not to seek re-election as president in

FRIDAYS WITH Dozie Okebalama

dozieokeama@yahoo.co.uk 08164966858 (SMS only) 2015. His six-year single term proposal is also facing stiff opposition, the latest coming from northern governors. Should the president find himself out of power come 2015, how would Mrs. Jonathan feel, having been roundly exposed to power, all its trappings and fanfare. A Mrs. Jonathan groomed as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State, and perhaps from there to a higher public office, would be a better transition for the First Lady should the nation’s gentleman president take the difficult decision of stepping aside in 2015. In other words, the Permanent Secretary job could well be a post-presidency survival plan, a spring board for a future political ambition, or both. Who knows? Those feeling thoroughly embarrassed by the Turai – Patience land face-off may not understand how enamoured most women can be with the thrills, glamour and booty of power. The conqueror spirit is, perhaps, worse. The office of First Lady is one constitutionally non-recognised edifice most Nigerian women salivate so much to occupy, whether or not they mean well, have clear vision, or are mere frivolous revelers. Once suddenly robbed of power, by the unforeseen, as Turai saw it on May 5, 2010 when her husband, the late President Yar’Adua passed on, dispossessing her of all she ‘worked for’ while her husband held court as president would evoke nothing but extreme bitterness, anger and hatred against her aggressors. For, it serves as a reminder of her monumental losses of her husband, access to power and fame.

SHOULD BE HONOUR Reports said a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WOYEF), the pet project of Turai, on March 19, 2010, paid the sum of N166 million to the Federal Capital Territory authorities as right of occupancy fees for a plot of land in the Central Area District of Abuja, the nation’s capital. The NGO paid an additional N76.9 million as settlement fees for building plans. Thereafter, WOYEF appointed and mobilised a building firm to develop the property at the cost of N13,516,013,797.58. But again on November 1, 2011, the FCT authorities reportedly sent an additional bill of N18,529,438, being the balance of the various charges under the grant, to WOYEF, which the NGO reportedly paid the next day; and shortly after, the property was suddenly revoked through a letter allegedly backdated to take effect from October 27, 2011. The same land was then re-allocated to the African First Ladies’ Peace Mission (AFLPM), the dream project of Mrs. Jonathan. Turai’s WOYEF was angry, and challenged the revocation in court on November 23, 2011; and on March 5, 2012, an Abuja High Court granted an injunction restraining any tampering with the interest

Sport Extra

w razil’s great, Roberto Carlos, has officially retired from football, Anzhi Makhachkala coach, Guus Hiddink confirmed yesterday. The 39-year-old was one of the Russian Premier League’s most high-profile

EVEN AMONG FIRST LADIES, PAST AND PRESENT, THERE

of WOYEF in the plot pending the determination of the substantive suit. Perhaps in a hurry to take possession, Mrs. Jonathan went to the court, seeking the discharge of the restraining order on the land or the making of an order of stay of execution of the interlocutory injunction it (the court) earlier granted Mrs. Yar’Adua’s NGO. Reports alleged, however, that even while the order of the court was still subsisting, Mrs. Jonathan’s AFLM moved workers to the site in defiance of the order; a situation that forced WOYEF to initiate contempt proceedings against the AFLPM. That was the stage they were when on Monday July 23, 2012, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) approached the court for an out-of-court settlement of the matter; but latest reports as at yesterday indicated that the deal collapsed following the refusal of both parties to shift grounds. Looking at the funds so far sunk into the yet undeveloped disputed land by Turai’s WOYEF; and what Dame Patience is likely to spend if her plan to erect the secretariat of her AFLPM on it eventually materializes, however, it becomes clearer, how much the state bleeds to sustain frivolities, though the usual claim is that such pet projects are not run with public funds. It bears reiteration that scarcely do the pet projects of first ladies outlive the tenure of their husbands in power. Perhaps one in a million, since most of them are for show and not for impact. Worse still, they most often than not, end up as personal ventures. That’s one of the reasons the recommendation of the Justice Alfa Belgore-led Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional Issues, that the office of First Lady be scrapped should be taken seriously. That does not amount to stripping a First Lady of the honour she deserves. Hajia Turai and Dame Patience should spare the nation further embarrassment. Even among first ladies, past and present, there should be honour. I don’t mean the type of honour espoused by Senator Arthur Nzeribe among thieves. Let the out-of-court settlement be guided by moderation and equity.

Carlos calls time on glittering career signings when he joined in February 2011, but has not played since March this year. “Roberto was a world class football player,” Hiddink said. “Unfortunately, he will

no longer play actively,” the Dutchman added. According to Hiddink, however, Carlos will render further service to the club. Carlos won 125 caps for Brazil, playing in three FIFA

World Cup, including the country’s triumphant Japan/Korea 2002 campaign, and was also a two-time winner of the Copa America. Known for his turn of pace and ability at free-kicks,

he will especially be remembered for his stunning ‘banana shot’ against France in 1997. He began his professional career in 1991 at Uniao Sao Joao and won four La Liga and three UEFA Champions League titles at Real Madrid.

Roberto Carlos

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